The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) has supported relief and recovery projects in Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in 2022. Working with many different partners, UMCOR has accompanied people affected by the war through ongoing phases of humanitarian response.

At the recent Global Ministries Board of Directors meeting, members approved two major grants for continued war recovery in Ukraine. The ongoing conflict has had devastating effects on the population, causing widespread infrastructure damage and large-scale economic disruption.

A new grant of $1 million to International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC)gives continued support for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and people with disabilities living in conflicted areas, such as Zakarpattia, Rivne, Ternopil, Lviv, Chernivtsi and Ivano-Frankivsk. It will provide food and other essentials, and job training, thereby fostering stability, self-reliance and improving prospects for long-term recovery. Economic empowerment is especially crucial for women IDPs, who care for children and parents and face additional barriers to employment. IOCC will also establish safe housing conditions in three shelters and two institutions.

Another UMCOR partner, One Collective, is building an apartment complex in Zakarpatska Oblast, projected to house 40 people. Apartments have private bathroom facilities and a common kitchen, living room, and laundromat facilities. Many residents cannot obtain safe and permanent homes until after the end of the war. In addition to building houses, the grant of $400,000 will help the project incorporate construction training for displaced individuals and others who have lost their primary source of income because of the war. Those who participate in the training will receive jobs to build the houses. This type of programming seeks to address the needs of livelihood as well as housing.

“It is becoming apparent that many from Eastern Ukraine will not be able to return home,” Katie Hills, director of UMCOR Disaster Response, said to UMCOR directors at their committee meeting in April. Therefore, two critical areas requiring aid are shelter and livelihood programs. Return to stable and reliable medical care, which includes trauma counseling and Post Traumatic Distress Syndrome (PTSD) counseling for civilians and military personnel, are also concerns that UMCOR is addressing.

The United Methodist Church in Ukraine – In 2023, UMCOR confirmed a significant grant to purchase property, providing reliable shelter for displaced families and a base for the UMC outreach ministries. Through local connections, the UMC in Ukraine purchased Pid Zamkom, Ukrainian for “Under the Castle,” a hotel, restaurant and event venue near Kam’yanytsya. The new shelter hosts 40 displaced people currently and provides space for United Methodist conferences, training and community outreach. The long-term vision for Pid Zamkom is to transform it into a rehabilitation center for war-related trauma survivors. Today, the residents are mostly women, children and the elderly, with many having stayed several years because of the war’s ongoing devastation.

International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) – An earlier grant to IOCC improved the living conditions of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and people with special needs living in shelters throughout Western Ukraine, IOCC is supplying or installing home and kitchen appliances and providing humanitarian kits and non-food items to targeted communities. In addition, IOCC is procuring essential medical equipment to restore medical services in the Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital in Kyiv.

Arlene Campbell Humanitarian Foundation – UMCOR supports psychosocial care provided to Ukrainian veterans and active military personnel at the Vinnytsia Rehabilitation Facility. This grant also provides wheelchairs and other medical equipment and nutritional support.

Tutapona – There is increasing need to support mental health and emotional healing in women, men, girls, and boys affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Tutapona adult and child-focused group therapy curricula supports people in need of intensive mental health support in Lviv. Facilitated by trained, in-house Tutapona staff, these programs aim to produce a measurable decrease in trauma symptoms and increase well-being.

Christie R. House is a consultant writer and editor with Global Ministries and UMCOR.

International Disaster Response

United Methodist Committee on Relief International Disaster Response and Recovery (UMCOR IDR) serves as the primary channel for United Methodist assistance for disasters that strike outside of the United States.

Make a gift to help UMCOR provide for the basic needs of people and communities devastated by both natural and humanmade disasters.

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“It was a chaotic time. Nobody knew what was happening! The war started, people were dying, and our main purpose was our family’s safety,” recounts Pavlo Osypenko of Life Spring UMC in Kyiv.

Pavlo and his friends—Slava Zinchuk, Evgen Boshov, Serge Shvets, and Maksym Pryhodko—moved their young families to the Slovakian border on the day Russia invaded Ukraine, Feb. 24, 2022. A Baptist church in Ternopil provided shelter, food and a place to sleep on their first night. Thankfully, along the journey, they encountered numerous acts of kindness.

Once the five men neared the Slovakian border and ensured their families’ safety in Slovakia, they were welcomed in Kam’yanytsya, Ukraine, by pastors Vasily and Alla Vuksta through the United Methodist connection. With their life savings in backpacks, the displaced men decided to establish a shelter for others. They began by visiting a local administrator in Onokivtsi, where they were given keys to a school. By the night of Mar. 6, they were sheltering 12 displaced people, which increased to 120 by the fifth night.

The community generously provided pillows, mattresses, blankets and food. Support poured in from United Methodists and other Christian friends worldwide, enabling the purchase of beds, sleeping bags, washing machines and more food. About 600 people passed through that school before it had to resume classes.

In May, they rented a former printing house on the edge of Uzhgorod, transforming it into a shelter with space for 60 guests, later expanding to accommodate at least 100. The total number of internally displaced people (IDPs) sheltered has reached over 1,500. Some stayed for a night, some for more than 3 years.

District Superintendent the Rev. Oleg Starodubets and his wife, the Rev. Yulia Starodubets, of the Ukraine Annual Conference, regularly visited the shelter and provided significant help, both spiritually and physically. They also partnered with UMCOR to provide a van to transport people and supplies and began regularly supporting the shelter financially. Bishop Christian Alsted of the Nordic-Baltic Episcopal Area and UMCOR staff members, Katie Hills and the Rev. Jack Amick, also visited the shelter, sparking discussions on establishing a permanent property for the UMC’s mission and ministry.

UMCOR confirmed a significant grant to build or purchase property and, through local connections, negotiated the procurement of the “Under the Castle” (UTC) hotel, restaurant and event venue near Kam’yanytsya. The purchase was finalized in March 2024. While the UMC still uses the former printing house, the new UTC shelter hosts 40 IDPs and provides space for United Methodist conferences, training and community outreach. The long-term vision for UTC is to transform it into a rehabilitation center for war-related trauma.

Under the Castle recently reopened its first-floor restaurant and began renting out its large hall for private events as ways to support the shelter’s residents on the second floor. Today, the residents are mostly women, children and the elderly, with many having stayed for years because of the war’s ongoing devastation.

Pavlo, now residing in the Netherlands with his family, reflects on his experience: “I want this story to be told, it was the most important part of my life – for God’s glory and power. I witnessed many amazing testimonies during this two and a half years.” See a video Pavlo created sharing the story here. Watch an interview of Pavlo Osypenko here.

The Rev. Dr. Fred Vanderwerf is a United Methodist pastor in the Minnesota Annual Conference and serves as the partnership coordinator for In Mission Together – Ukraine for Global Ministries.

The United Methodist Committee on Relief International Disaster Response program (UMCOR IDR) serves as the primary channel for United Methodist assistance for disasters that strike outside the United States. Response includes food, water, hygiene and other essential nonfood supplies and shelter support for displaced people fleeing disasters.

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“Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”

Mark 10:17b and 21

MADRID – As a global missionary with Global Ministries, I had the privilege of preaching at the Spanish Evangelical Church (IEE) in Madrid this fall. For decades, the Evangelical Protestant Church has been a marginalized voice, striving to remain steadfast in its mission to offer hope and comfort in a society that has often viewed it with suspicion or disdain.

Despite cultural and political pressures, it has sought to be a beacon of light for those most in need, including migrants and those displaced by the forces of capitalism and gentrification. Its commitment to social justice and caring for the marginalized reflects a gospel interpretation that challenges the power structures and inequalities permeating the country. My sermon was guided by the lectionary in Cycle B, focusing on passages from the Gospel of Mark. This provided an opportunity to reflect on the call for justice, compassion, and the radical hospitality that Christ embodies.

In our time together, we spoke of the urgent need to open the doors of this country, Spain, as a truly welcoming home for all, advocating for the end of violence and discrimination. We encouraged the congregation to embody the love and mercy of God in a world increasingly torn by hatred, division and the harmful rhetoric that fuels them. This world is not unlike the one baby Jesus experienced, as his family forcibly fled their country as refugees to escape the threat of death to the child. 

Today, across the globe, we are witnessing a dangerous rise in hate speech and divisive ideologies that seek to marginalize and oppress. From social media to political platforms, inflammatory language has become commonplace, even in the words of medium-quality comedians, contributing to an atmosphere of fear and hostility that threatens the communities. In this climate, the message of the Gospel is more relevant than ever: we are called to be agents of peace, to seek equity and to stand in solidarity with the oppressed. And, because of the political situations unfolding in powerful nations after elections, the Christian community founded on the Gospel of Jesus is called to resist.

Inspired by the sermons and theology of John and Charles Wesley and Latin American theology, I challenged myself and the congregation to not only proclaim love for our neighbor but to demonstrate it through concrete actions (orthopraxis). We were reminded that faith is not passive; it calls us to actively resist injustice, advocate for the voiceless, and be living witnesses of Christ’s teachings. In times of hatred, white supremacy, racism and corruption, our response as Christians must be one of courageous love, rooted in the conviction that peace and equity are not just ideals, but divine mandates.

Please join your hearts with our Spanish members and pray with me, as a whole Christian family:

Dear God: May we continue to rise to this call to resist injustice and advocate for the voiceless as living witnesses to Christ’s teaching. Beyond Christmastide and into the New Year, may we recommit ourselves to be vessels of God’s peace in a world that so desperately needs it. Amen.

Pedro Zavala, from Mexico City, Mexico, is an academic officer associate and a professor with the United Evangelical Theological Seminary in Madrid, Spain. He served as a professor and an academic dean at Seminario Metodista “Dr. Gonzalo Báez Camargo” as former GBGM National in Mission (NIM), and private educational institutions (ITESM, UCSJ, CTM). He and his spouse, Cecilia López Bátiz, are the parents of a young son, Xavier.

Global Missionaries
Global Ministries missionaries are a tangible connection between The United Methodist Church and mission. Through denominational or ecumenical ministries, missionaries bear witness to God’s presence all around the world. They are called by God and sent out to serve by the church, usually placed in a new cultural context beyond their country of origin. Missionaries engage in ministry that is defined by mutuality and partnership, seeking to expand the mission of God already present and active in people and places.

Explore the work of Global Ministries missionaries.

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At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory […] Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near [….] Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap.

Excerpted from Luke 21:25-36 (NIV)

LETTERKENNY, IRELAND – When the Methodist Church of Ireland asked for a Polish church planter, it relied on a census from several years before, where Letterkenny’s Polish population was the largest ethnic minority here. In 2024, one can’t help but feel it’s the Irish who are becoming the largest minority. Unlike in Dublin, which has seen violent demonstrations under the “Ireland-is-full” banner, life here, on the far Northwestern edge of the island, is quite peaceful, but it may well be a calm before the storm.

The migratory trends are bound to continue: the war in Ukraine shows no signs of easing; post-Brexit migration through Northern Ireland, which has no border with the Republic, is on the increase; and the numbers of boats crossing the Mediterranean into Europe are also increasing. New wars break out all over the globe. In Northern Ireland, the police stations look like fortresses, with tensions rising.

Yet, in the midst of it all, God is at work, and if you keep your eyes open, you will see clear signs of this. At the exoteric, apparent level, this town of about 25,000 boasts a growing number of faith communities, chiefly Baptist, Jehovah’s Witnesses and charismatic faith groups. Things have been happening at the unseen level, too. In this land of beer and whisky, the Alcoholics Anonymous movement has been growing. Many claim to have been saved from untold misery and premature death by the intervention of a Higher Power. For economic reasons, pub attendance and alcohol consumption are apparently going down, too.

And here I am, a Methodist missionary on a “mission impossible.” The local Poles either remain Catholic or want to have nothing to do with organized religion, whereas Ukrainians are attracted to very conservative denominations or are getting organized by themselves into charismatic groups. Before I can start church planting, I need to go home hunting, which is a tall order, given the influx of migrants, the start of a new academic year and the “faulty cement scandal,” a manufacturing fault in the mineral content of cement building blocks, which has left thousands in Donegal County homeless and on the lookout for places to rent. And yet, within 10 days, I found an apartment.

In another 10 days, I found a restaurant run by two Polish women. They have a venue, I have ideas. They are open to extending their offer, and they are … spiritual, with both in one way or another coming from an alcoholic background and, though anticlerical, believing in a Higher Power. I am a layperson rather than clergy. When people salvaged and transformed by God meet a missionary to walk the path of post-recovery with them, anything is possible! We can create a community of faith for the transformation of ourselves and our wider community…for starters.

I pray that Methodists see this situation as a universal call and a spiritual opportunity.

Lord, help us discern ways in which we can walk with people who have just experienced your powerful liberation from their forms of enslavement, old and new! Help all involved to make sense of your intervention, come together and get involved, adding meaning to a newfound life.

Leslaw Olgierd Kawalec is a Global Missionary and layperson from Poland serving as a church developer in Letterkenny, Republic of Ireland, with the Methodist Church of Ireland, a denomination that spans both Ireland and Northern Ireland. He is a church planter in Polish and Eastern European communities. He has a degree in English Language and Letters and has also studied theology and archaeology.

Global Missionaries

Global Ministries missionaries are a tangible connection between The United Methodist Church and mission. Through denominational or ecumenical ministries, missionaries bear witness to God’s presence all around the world. They are called by God and sent out to serve by the church, usually placed in a new cultural context beyond their country of origin. Missionaries engage in ministry that is defined by mutuality and partnership, seeking to expand the mission of God already present and active in people and places. Explore the work of Global Ministries missionaries.

Make a difference. Make a gift.  

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Location —

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ATLANTA – Become a Global Mission Fellow (GMF) and join the movement of young adults who cross boundaries to better understand and respond to injustice.

The Global Mission Fellows program of The United Methodist Church places young adults, ages 20-30, in social justice ministries for two years of service. The program is excited to announce the launch of the application for the next cohort of fellows.

Since 1951, fellows have worked to address deep-rooted systems of injustice in a variety of areas, including food insecurity, migration/immigration, education and poverty. They gain a fresh perspective on systems preventing social change as they engage with current world issues.

“As we live in a world that is becoming increasingly polarized and the divide between socioeconomic classes, ideologies, race/ethnicity, and gender identities deepen, I believe God is pouring out God’s Spirit on all people so that ‘Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young will see visions. Your elders will dream dreams.’” (Acts 2:17, CEB), says the Rev. Dr. Judy Chung, executive director for Missionary Service for Global Ministries. “With the Spirit of God working in and through young people, a movement of God’s mission that ushers in justice and peace can transform the world.” 

The Wesleyan value of personal and social holiness is at the core of the Global Mission Fellows program. The program is open to those from different denominational backgrounds, but participants are expected to represent The United Methodist Church and uphold its social principles during their time of service.

Fellows form meaningful relationships with their host community as they are mentored by organizations meeting immediate needs and working toward lasting transformation. They receive ongoing training in spiritual and professional development and the program provides ways for the cohort to stay connected across countries and placement sites. 

The application deadline for the international track is Jan. 15, 2025. The program is not accepting applications for service on the US-2 track this year. Placement matches will be assigned throughout the selection process, but early application is encouraged for the strongest match. The application for the international track can be found at https://umcmission.org/become-a-fellow-international-track/.

Those selected for the next Global Mission Fellow cohort will begin onboarding in Spring 2025 and start service in August 2025.

For more information regarding the program or application process, email missionaryinfo@umcmission.org.

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About the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church

Global Ministries is the worldwide mission and development agency of The United Methodist Church. Founded in 1819, Global Ministries today supports more than 200 missionaries in over 60 countries, including the United States. It has personnel, projects and partners in 115 countries. Learn more about Global Ministries by visiting www.umcmission.org or by following www.facebook.com/GlobalMinistries and Twitter.com/UMCmission.

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“Anything is a blessing which makes us pray.”

Charles Spurgeon

GEVGELIJA, NORTH MACEDONIA – Can God hear our prayer if we are underwater?

This is one of the questions I asked the children at our third annual children’s camp as we delved into the life and story of Jonah. From June 19 – 22, 27 children and 15 adult volunteers attended the camp in Gevgelija, North Macedonia. This year was special because six of the volunteers were part of a Volunteers in Mission (VIM) team from Raleigh Court United Methodist Church in Roanoke, Virginia.

The theme for the camp was “God hears those who cry out to him,” and focused on the story of Jonah. We studied how God responded to the prayers of the sailors who took Jonah aboard their ship, to Jonah’s prayer as he was sinking in the sea, and to the prayers of the Assyrians living in Nineveh. Our camp verse came from Romans 10:13, “For, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”

Like many VBS and church camps around the world, we started every morning outside with some calisthenics and a brief devotional before breakfast. After breakfast, we had our large group sessions where we sang songs, had our main lesson, practiced our Bible verse, and prayed together. Then we divided into our small groups where we further explored the Bible lesson for the day. We also had time for swimming, making crafts, and playing games. On the final evening, we had a campfire and continued our tradition of roasting marshmallows.

On the first night, I asked the children if they knew what a prophet was and if they thought it would be a good job to have. We talked about the task God gave Jonah and how Jonah fled because he did not want to do it. The next morning, we discussed how the sailors who agreed to take Jonah to Tarshish got caught in a terrible storm and thought they were going to die. In our small groups, we acted out the storm and how nothing the sailors did worked to calm it until they finally called out to Jonah’s God and threw Jonah overboard!

On the second day, we imagined what Jonah might have prayed as he was sinking in the water and decided that prayers can be as short as one word: “Help!!” We saw that God answered Jonah’s underwater prayer and sent a large fish to save him. In our small groups, we listed common places and situations in which we pray and then tried to come up with a place or situation in which God could not hear our prayer.

On the last day, we explored different ways people in the ancient world expressed sorrow and repentance. The children got to experience tearing clothes, wearing an itchy cloth (like sackcloth), fasting, and pouring ashes on their heads. We learned that when the Ninevites repented and cried out to God to save them from their own wickedness, God spared their city.

Having a team of volunteers from the U.S. meant that we could cook our own meals this year rather than ordering prepackaged meals like we had done in previous years. The meals were delicious, and we saved money. But even more than that, the mealtimes took on an intimate, family-like atmosphere as the children got to practice asking politely for food to be passed to them. I am very thankful for the contribution the Raleigh Court UMC made to our children’s camp this year. And I am happy to know that within weeks of returning home from our camp, the Raleigh Court UMC hosted its own “Scuba VBS” camp, with lots of water and lots of music!

I prayed many prayers for “Help!” in the months and days leading up to our camp and God answered me by sending his best. I am extremely thankful for all the volunteers who came to invest in the children and make the camp a great success. So, if you are organizing a camp like me, being buffeted by a storm you did not cause like the sailors, drowning in a situation you did cause like Jonah, or have slipped into sin like the Ninevites, cry out to God. God will hear you. And God will save.

Jennifer Moore is a Global Missionary serving with the United Methodist Church in North Macedonia as a Christian educator for Women’s, Children’s and Youth Ministries. Her work can be supported through the UMC Advance.

Global Missionaries

Global Ministries missionaries are a tangible connection between The United Methodist Church and mission. Through denominational or ecumenical ministries, missionaries bear witness to God’s presence all around the world. They are called by God and sent out to serve by the church, usually placed in a new cultural context beyond their country of origin. Missionaries engage in ministry that is defined by mutuality and partnership, seeking to expand the mission of God already present and active in people and places. Explore the work of Global Ministries missionaries.

Support the ministries of missionaries working around the world, Advance # 00779Z.

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During the current Russian invasion, Ukraine has become one of the most heavily mined regions in the world. Eleven of Ukraine’s 27 regions are covered with mines, according to Human Rights Watch. About 30% of Ukraine’s territory is affected, and nearly a thousand civilians have lost their lives by inadvertently detonating mines and all kinds of unexploded ordnance on the ground.

In addition, not all the bombs and rockets explode on contact, so they remain armed and dangerous, even in pieces. A particularly heinous weapon is designed to detonate hours or even weeks after it is launched, about the time people think the coast is clear.

In 2022, shortly after the war began, the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) joined trusted partner Mines Advisory Group (MAG), a nonprofit agency of the United Kingdom, to support mine and unexploded ordnance risk education. Ukrainians have not had dangerous ordnance on this scale for more than 75 years since their lands were a battleground during World War II.

“The warning signs were extremely concerning, but what really shocked me was the realization that, despite my fear, I could be unknowingly putting myself at risk because I did not know how to react in such situations,” noted a teacher who had fled from Mariupol. “It wasn’t until I attended an Explosive Ordnance Risk Education session that I gained a full understanding and increased awareness of the risks posed by explosive ordnance in our territories.”

MAG’s objective is to enable long-term humanitarian mine activities for the benefit of communities, Internally Displaced People (IDPs) and people returning to their homes. MAG’s in-country partner is the Ukrainian Deminers Association (UDA), so experience, training and knowledge are shared with those in the country who supervise this work.

To reduce the threat posed by explosive remnants of war and landmines, MAG initiates surveys and disseminates explosive ordnance information to help those living in or returning to contaminated areas.

Beyond training professionals, people of all ages and in all areas of the country need to understand they are living in or returning to contaminated areas. Community programming that makes people aware of the risks from landmines and other deadly weapons is designed to help them adopt safer behaviors to reduce the risk of accidents. Much of UMCOR’s support has made this possible in the region surrounding Kyiv.

The main method MAG uses for reaching community members about the dangers of explosives is through Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE). The first to receive this training were Ukrainian deminers, so they could teach the course in Ukrainian to others. Many community sessions are held in schools or civic buildings, but because the war goes on, the training is offered online as well.

After a training at the Sikorsky Aerospace Lyceum of the National Aviation University in Kyiv, a teacher affirmed that right now, the risk of being blown up can be anywhere, even your own backyard. In June 2022, she and her family were outside building a fire for a barbecue. Her young grandson was standing next to her, watching the fire.

Suddenly, something exploded, and rubble and hot coals flew out of the fire. The teacher managed to push her grandson to the ground and cover him with her body.

The boy was safe, but the teacher’s hair and clothes were heavily burned, and her back was cut by flying debris. They later discovered that something lay buried under the place where the fire had been lit.

Another problem encountered by MAG has been the practice of “souvenir” collecting, even while the war is adding new “souvenirs” to the landscape. At a Polytechnic University session, where a dormitory was converted into a hostel shelter, a young man shared a story of collecting “spent” shells. He had gone to visit his relatives in Mykolaivka, but they came under Russian shelling. Afterwards, he could see “shells” of fired ammunition on the ground. The State Emergency Service staff was working nearby and confirmed that they would no longer pose a threat as they had already fired their munitions.

The young man put three of these trophies in the trunk of his car and drove them around for a while, showing them to his friends. One day he stopped at a gas station to get his car repaired. While standing at the front looking under the hood for the cause of the car’s malfunction, a huge explosion rocked the car – one of the “empty shells” in the trunk exploded.

It was a miracle that no one was injured as the people were on the opposite side of the car and protected by the open hood. The car’s windows were smashed, the trunk was turned upside down. But the young man was grateful that he was unharmed, as were other people around him. He said that if he had been trained earlier, he would have understood that there are no “used shells,” but that any explosive remnants of war must not be touched or approached. Most people have no idea that objects that look safe can explode at any time.

Many stories have been shared at the training sessions, such as a woman drawing water from her well and finding a grenade, or a few boys who found WWII ordinance and decided it could not possibly be dangerous after so many years. Sadly, two of the three lost their lives.

But thanks to the EORE project supported by UMCOR, in cooperation with MAG, Ukraine is raising people’s awareness of explosive ordnance and saving lives and limbs with the gift of knowledge, which changes their attitudes and behavior.

Christie R. House is a consultant writer and editor with Global Ministries and UMCOR.

Funding for this project was made possible by generous giving to UMCOR’s International Disaster Response Recovery, Advance #982450. Gifts to this Advance will continue to impact lives in positive ways.

International Disaster Response and Recovery

Founded in 1940, the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is the global humanitarian relief and development agency of The United Methodist Church. A part of Global Ministries, UMCOR works in more than 80 countries worldwide, including the United States and its territories. United Methodist Committee on Relief International Disaster Response and Recovery (UMCOR IDR) serves as the primary channel for United Methodist assistance for disasters that strike outside of the United States.

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ATLANTA – The Rev. Eliad Dias dos Santos served members of very poor and unwelcome communities for a decade in her home country of Brazil before becoming a United Methodist missionary in Rome, Italy. She got to know women who had turned to prostitution to feed themselves and their families, and the situations of their children, and other women who had been trafficked or were assaulted and left with no support. When she describes them as unwelcome, she means particularly unwelcome in the church.

“I think it is not possible to stay in the church building and create services for people in the streets,” dos Santos explained. “Normally, the church waits for these people to come to the church, but they do not come. And if they do, they are often not welcomed. They are not even invited into the church. So, I decided to serve the people in the streets.”

As part of her seminary training, dos Santos spent three years working with Catholic sisters in a project to serve prostitutes on the streets of São Paulo. It happened to be in the same community as the church she grew up attending, but she had never seen the community from this perspective and did not know the reality of life in poor spaces.

“Working in the streets was a new conversion experience for me,” she said.

She learned how to slowly build relationships with people on the street simply by being there, outside the church, day after day. She could talk with people in a way that helped them open up about their situations. She listened so she could discern what a next step might be. In this way, she learned how to be of service, when to call the police, when and where to find safe shelter for those who needed it.

The children on the streets are of special concern to her. They may be used to make money for the family or trafficked to another place while their parents think they are working or being taught a trade as an apprentice. But instead, they enter the very worst of circumstances with no way out. Eliad also worked to overcome these situations, even if it meant breaking down a dangerous trafficking circle. She found teenagers but also children as young as six and eight years abused in this way.

“Some of these people come from generations of people who lived in the street,” she said. “These children were born in the street, they grow up in the street, they don’t go to school, and their parents and grandparents have done the same. They don’t have documents or ID.”

After she entered missionary service, dos Santos traveled to Rome, Italy, to work with migrants coming into Italy from African countries, South America, Syria, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Often, they too end up in the streets.

“The difference in Italy from Brazil is that here in Rome, there are associations for the distribution of food. People have breakfast, lunch and dinner. In Rome there are now 12 associations that do this, but, only for food. There are no other services offered,” dos Santos noted.

The Federation of Evangelical Churches in Italy, of which the Methodist Church of Italy and the Waldensian Church, also affiliated with the Methodist Church, are members, received a grant from the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) to build on this project. The church dos Santos works with, called 20^th of September Methodist Church, offered a breakfast project for six years, but the congregation only distributed food for the homeless on Sundays…in the church.

“When I arrived here, after I learned about the process for services in Rome, I asked to have a space outside the church to distribute the food, so we could talk to the people, look into their eyes, listen to their histories. We began to build relationships with the migrants we met.” And so, dos Santos began the long-term process of building a social service program that would answer the needs of the people seeking assistance.

“The idea is to create a place of service all day – people have food but they no place to stay, no space for work,” said dos Santos. “People stay in the parks, in the bus station. We needed a space for the people to stay together to learn things and to form a supportive community – learn Italian and apply for the documents they need in Italy. People often have to wait a year for documents and they cannot work without them.”

Today the church in Rome helps people with their documents, referring them to the correct office and checking to see what is missing. “And we have a space to teach them Italian, because Italian is not offered in many places in the world – it is used in Italy only and a small section of Switzerland. Sometimes violence erupts against immigrants who don’t speak Italian. I visit them in the hospitals and accompany them to social services.”

Friday the church is open for people to come for social services and Pastor dos Santos offers counseling sessions on Wednesdays as well. She listens to find out what people need and how the church can be of better service.

“My question is often, ‘what is your dream here? What do you want and need?’ The church is open for me to walk with you for this moment, to listen and help you find your community with other immigrants.

“I have worked with people who believe that Jesus continues to walk with his people and with the excluded. As Christians, we are the presence of God in these people’s lives, not only helping them materially, but fighting for a more just and safe world.”

Christie R. House is a consultant writer and editor with Global Ministries and UMCOR.

Global Missionaries
Global Ministries missionaries are a tangible connection between The United Methodist Church and mission. Through denominational or ecumenical ministries, missionaries bear witness to God’s presence all around the world. They are called by God and sent out to serve by the church, usually placed in a new cultural context beyond their country of origin. Missionaries engage in ministry that is defined by mutuality and partnership, seeking to expand the mission of God already present and active in people and places. Explore the work of Global Ministries missionaries.

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The post Taking church to the streets appeared first on Global Ministries.

Global Mission Fellows completing their two-year terms of service in spring 2024 shared photos and memories about their time as young adult missionaries.

Catch a glimpse into the work of 10 GMFs and what they found meaningful in their placements all over the world. 

A large part of the economy of Kamina is based on traditional subsistence agriculture, fishing and cattle breeding. Modern farms are rare. Yet, Kamina lacks neither rich land, nor rivers and lakes full of fish.

The people in the photo are from the southeastern part of Kamina in a village called Kinkunki, which is not far from Kamisamba farm, where I work. They are mostly peasant farmers whose livelihoods depend on their farms. Because of their financial constraints, this rural village finds it difficult to send its children to school, which results in high rates of illiteracy in the community.

The children, without resources to attend school, don’t have any other option than to join and support their parents in farming.

However, they lack some of the basic agricultural tools that could improve their farming techniques. They usually come to Kamisamba Farm to work during harvest. After the harvest, Kamisamba provides them with seeds that help them plant their own fields to improve their crop production.

In my place of assignment, I am involved both in the El Sembrador Sschool and in the church (which is located on the school grounds). I direct the English program, help with the school’s marching band, teach the recorder, pianica and the lira (glockenspiel), and I am involved with the church’s music team.

However, I have never felt so fulfilled and happy as I was during this moment. This is the first joint young people’s retreat/fellowship that I organized with the new GMF, Binu Bill Bright Abel from India. This was attended by the youth of two churches, both part of my work assignment: Iglesia Metodista Pastocalle and Iglesia Metodista Agua de Vida in Romerillos. We fellowshipped with each other, cooked and shared food, and listened to the Word of God shared by my seminary Professor, Dr. David Upp. The goal was to build a closer connection between the two churches and a community of young believers.

We all need friends, community, support and a sense of being loved. It is a blessing to have found all these through a local spiritual community in my place of assignment. This is one of the local churches in which I have spent time serving with the youth alongside the youth pastors of the church. Engaging in Bible studies together, celebrating and grieving with one another, visiting each other’s homes and learning more about our cultural dynamics has assisted in relationship building and enhancing our spiritual growth through shared stories of God’s experiences in our lives.

One of the days I will remember is July 9, 2023, pictured above. I had a role to play in the Sunday worship service. To my surprise, after the benediction, the band played a birthday song and the whole congregation started singing along, surrounding me. They showered me with gifts and prayers. I felt loved, like family, while joy overflowed in my heart on that day. With gratitude in my heart, I look forward to the continued growth and connection with them in my last days of GMF service and beyond.

Since the organization’s founding in 1994, Koinonia’s mission has been to mobilize ecumenical solidarity and render service to historically and culturally vulnerable groups that are in the process of social and political emancipation. The organization makes alliances with Black communities that are set in urban and rural areas, with women, young people, LGBTQIA+ communities, and with people who have HIV and AIDS.

Koinonia trains young people and adolescents on gender and diversity rights and coordinates public advocacy with people living with HIV, raising awareness in churches and religious communities on health and sexuality issues, and strengthening religious actions for inclusion.

The aim of the event pictured above was to build spaces to encourage and discuss information about the combined prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections as well as provide psychosocial support for people with HIV and AIDS, aiming to minimize the damage caused by pandemics in the outskirts and metropolitan regions of the city of São Paulo.

I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to work with children, teenagers and senior citizens. Our organization focuses on the underprivileged and marginalized, but especially the children. They have the right to learn and develop, but because of their circumstances, they are not growing in optimal conditions.

In the photo, the children are playing games after their classes. Although the conditions there are very poor, the children always smile brightly and welcome us whenever we visit. I believe that children need more attention because they are the generation that will continue the work of God in the future. We provide alternative educational programs for these children, and we also have Bible study classes with them. This ensures that they develop both physically and spiritually.

The Northwest Immigrant Rights Project promotes justice by defending and advancing the rights of immigrants through direct legal services, systemic advocacy and community education. In Seattle, I work as a citizen intake coordinator to help clients navigate their program eligibility and provide direct representation to support attorneys and legal advocates through the U.S. legal system.

Part of why I applied to be a Global Mission Fellow US-2 was to take part in mission that works toward positive impact, to advocate for social justice for those who need it and are experiencing injustice and working with communities instead of for them.

But leaving Oklahoma to come to Seattle, I found it was also important to find a good church community outside of work and one that matched the GMF mission. Here are a group of us kayaking on a church retreat as we spent the weekend at church camp growing together and feeling connected!

Serving people and serving the community is the way I serve my God. I am grateful for the skills God gave me to use in my ministry, especially to work with kids and young people.

It is my pleasure to meet and work with a diverse community that allows us to show our love, respect, kindness and unity.

Connecting the church in mission and engaging with the community has a big impact on me as I lead a team. In Northern Ireland, we do surf workshops while sharing the Gospel of Jesus as we believe that “Real Life Awaits.”

The spiritual life of young people is strengthened through the balance (Sports and Workshop) of the ministry, also, they’ll grow in personal and in social holiness. Ministry has a big influence on an individual’s life, portraying the ministry of Jesus in the boat, in the sea, in the mountains, in the cities, as we see differently and serve differently.

I work closely with the Green Scenery Advocacy Team in organizing advocacy activities, including seminars, conferences, and some specific campaigns. I assist in designing, planning, implementing and monitoring advocacy project activities, and in organizing seminars, workshops and special lectures.

Here we work hand-in-hand with vulnerable communities to help them understand the impacts of climate change, empowering them to advocate for ways to help the climate recover and reduce practices that are unsustainable.

In serving with the Pan Africa Climate Justice Alliance in Kenya, my focus lies within a climate policy and advocacy organization, distinct from direct church engagement. However, driven by a desire to find a local spiritual community of support, I connected with a United Methodist congregation while on this spiritual journey.

Following the disaffiliation of larger UMC churches in Kenya, including all of those in Nairobi, I, alongside like-minded believers, embarked on a mission to revitalize our United Methodist roots. Through collaborative consultation and concerted effort, we successfully planted six United Methodist churches in Nairobi. Today, these churches stand as beacons of hope, embodying the spirit of the UMC and nurturing spiritual growth within our community.

I am from the Philippines, and I serve in Clarendon Shelter, a homeless shelter in Derry/Londonderry in Northern Ireland. My job description involves learning about homelessness and active participation in doing support work.

I’ve learned never to underestimate the power of being different, especially in places where you will stand out. When I came to Derry, I was so afraid of being judged or profiled because of who I am and where I come from. However, I realized that if I don’t step into a lighted space I will forever be in the dark – unseen and unheard.

I started sharing my ideas in the shelter and facilitating projects with the residents. Going to schools and churches to share facts about the issue of homelessness helped me to feel at home with different people, especially young children, and to create an advocacy project.

Here at Clooney Hall Methodist Church, I met with the Elders Luncheon Club to share about the rapid growth of homelessness in Northern Ireland and the importance of advocacy for housing rights and how congregations and church members can get involved.

Please pray for these GMFs and their broader cohort of fellows as they transition to new careers, further studies or another phase of discernment in their lives.

Meanwhile, the 2024-2026 class of young adult missionaries has been selected and trained for service and will soon be arriving in their placements!

Learn more about the Global Mission Fellows program, including how to apply and ways to support.

The post 10 Global Mission Fellows reflect on 2 years of service appeared first on Global Ministries.