CONTENTS
1 Letter from Leadership
2 Where We Work
4 Connecting the Church in Mission
6 Missionaries
8 Mission Engagement
10 Alleviating Human Suffering 12 Global Health
14 Humanitarian Relief
18 Strength in Connection
20 Board of Directors
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OUR HOPE IS IN THE LORD, OUR STRENGTH EVERY MORNING
The prophet Isaiah lived through a complex and difficult time in history, not unlike ours today. It was a time of internal injustice and inequity within the kingdom of Judah. Yet it was also a time of religious revival and reform, including those led by Isaiah himself. Isaiah 33:2 assures us of hope in challenging times. “We hope in you,” Isaiah proclaims, even “in times of distress.” In such times, we dig deep into our faith and hold on tight to hope, trusting in God to “be our strength every morning,” whether on a personal, organizational or global level. Hope is here; we never have to wait for it. Even in the most violent places of the world there are seeds of hope. Global Ministries experienced many changes throughout 2024, both in the church and in the world. Some of these transitions, like Global Ministries’ alignment with the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM), could be anticipated and planned for in our work. Others, like decisions made at General Conference, will take time to live into, such as the meaning and practical enactment of the regional structure of the UMC. Across the church, there is hope that regionalization will be ratified and will lead us into a less colonial way of being the church together. We have historically made a strong distinction between work in the United States and work in other countries, but now, we must see our work in a holistic way. One of the key shifts in the work of Global Ministries over the past few years has been a deepening engagement with our partners around the world. In 2024, Global Ministries developed a new strategic plan for 2025-2026, which organizes our mission programs and four priority areas into two broad categories going forward:
connecting the church in mission, which includes the work of missionaries and mission volunteers, multiethnic ministries and the Mission Engagement unit; and alleviating human suffering, our Global Ministries’ Global Health work and disaster response and recovery through the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), as well as agricultural and income development through the Yambasu Agriculture Initiative. The formal alignment of Global Ministries and GBHEM under one general secretary transpired in the summer, though the agencies had been working together for several years. Alignment will create a unified presence and an integrated structure for both agencies as they interact with partners and share information across units. This will help us best respond to and support our partners in their mission and ministry. When we ground ourselves in hope and allow it to direct our sight, then we can see instances of people partnering together to share food and medical care. We see transformative leaders courageously leading congregations and conferences into new expressions of church. We see mission partners recommitting themselves to be in relationship with one another for the sake of serving the world. Hope is not dependent on what is happening. We can choose hope. Christ is with us and the Holy Spirit gives us the tenacity to be a witness in our hope. We thank God for all those who partner with us, answering God’s call to be in mission together. This report delves into some of the many impacts of the work made possible by faith- ful giving and strong support. We thank you, church members, donors, partners and those we serve for the hope you give us to further God’s mission every day.
Roland Fernandes General Secretary,
Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson President, Global Ministries
Bishop David Wilson President, UMCOR
Global Ministries Higher Education and Ministry UMCOR
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WHERE WE WORK
In 2024, Global Ministries and UMCOR worked with partners to connect the church in mission and alleviate human suffering in more than 100 countries:
El Salvador Fiji Finland Germany
Afghanistan Albania Angola Argentina Austria Bahamas Barbados Belize Benin Bolivia Brazil Burundi Cambodia Cameroon
Canada Central African Republic Chile China Colombia Costa Rica Côte d’Ivoire Cuba Czech Republic Denmark Dominican Republic Democratic Republic of Congo Ecuador
Ghana Greece Grenada Guatemala Haiti Honduras Hong Kong, SAR, P.R. of China Hungary India
Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jordan Kenya Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia
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Lebanon Liberia Libya Lithuania Madagascar
Nigeria North Macedonia Norway
Saint Lucia Senegal Serbia Sierra Leone Somalia South Africa South Korea South Sudan Spain Sweden Switzerland Taiwan
Pakistan Palestine Panama Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Romania Russia Rwanda
Malawi Mexico
Uganda Ukraine United Kingdom Uruguay United States of America Venezuela Vietnam Zambia Zimbabwe
Moldova Mongolia Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nepal Nicaragua
Tanzania Thailand Togo
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Global Ministries connects the church in mission through the sending of missionaries and volunteers and by establishing churches and strengthening faith communities. Connecting the Church in Mission
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MISSIONARIES
Global Missionaries Taking church to the streets
As a missionary in Rome, Italy, the Rev. Eliad Dos Santos works with migrants coming from African countries, South America, Syria, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Often, they end up in the streets without access to social services. Dos Santos decided to create a space outside her church to distribute food so she could talk to migrants and form relationships. This practice led to building a social service program that served the often-over- looked needs of migrants. Today, the church in Rome is open for people to come for social services and Pastor dos Santos offers counseling sessions every week. She listens to find out what people need and how the church can be of better service.
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 safer world. – The Rev. Eliad Dos Santos
Global Missionaries Feeding the forgotten
The Rev. Jane Eesley returned to Israel-Palestine in 2023 as a Global Missionary to serve with the Methodist Liaison Office in Jerusalem. She had served in Jerusalem in the 1990s as a young adult. Within months of her arrival, violent conflict between Hamas and Israel began and has since claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people. Eesley recommended several ministries to the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), for grants. Shepherd Society, the outreach arm of Bethlehem Bible College, which delivers food to individuals, received a grant to supply Palestinian Christians with one meal, delivered three times a week. Shireen Awwad, the Shepherd Society’s director of outreach, said recipients often spread each meal over two days or share it with their hungry neighbors as well.
We owe our faith to Palestinian Christians. They are the ones who kept the flame of faith burning. When my people were still painting themselves blue in Britain, Palestinian Christians were keeping our faith alive. They are our forbearers. – The Rev. Jane Eesley
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NEW MISSIONARIES STARTED SERVICE IN 2024
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GMFs SERVED INTERNATIONALLY 65
Global Mission Fellows Harvest in DRC
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 farmers whose livelihoods depend on their farms. Because of their financial constraints, this rural village finds it difficult to send its children to school, but when they come to Kamisamba Farm to work the harvest and learn ways to improve their crop production, their finances improve too. – Honest Baraya
Mission Volunteers Returning to Ecuador
David and Shari Nelson serve as Mission Volunteers from Colorado. They’ve developed a passion for the ministry of El Sembrador school, its students and teachers. They spent two months in Pastocalle in 2023 to assist the English teacher and establish a computer lab, which has been helping the children in their classwork, and basic computer skills and literacy. They returned to Ecuador in January 2024. Both David and Shari, lifetime Methodists, worked with the Ecuadoran Methodists to facilitate a praise team retreat to encourage church growth through strengthening faith, leadership skills and technical skills of the members of the Methodist praise teams. Forty-five musicians from across Ecuador attended the three-day event in April along with an ecumenical team from the U.S. through their home church, Broomfield United Methodist Church.
This year, we continue working with El Sembrador school and a few churches, and helping the national church create a presence on the internet. – Shari Nelson
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MISSION ENGAGEMENT
Multiethnic Ministries Love and care at the pantry door
Last year, the Closet of Hope Food Pantry, a ministry of Hope-South- field UMC in Michigan, received a Community Engagement grant from Global Ministries to enhance their supply of hygiene products and other needed items. After the COVID-19 pandemic, the mission co-chairs of the church, Jean and Preston Boyd and Michael Boggs, have worked to increase supplies, supportive partners and the clients they serve. “We try to make sure that we see the clients and that they see the love of Christ in what we do and that they walk away with a good experience,” says Preston Boyd. “That is shown in the surveys we do. The clients say that our pantry cares and that they appreciate the love and care we show them.”
Since our reopening, we have distributed something like 86,000 lbs. of food, which reached about 4,500 people, or 500 different households. The volunteers are revved up and want to be here, because they know they are contributing to the lives of the clients we serve. – Michael Boggs
Mission Initiatives Flourishing churches in Vietnam and Cambodia
Global Ministries’ Vietnam Mission Initiative announced its intention to become independent following General Conference. Mission initiatives are not intended to stay mission initiatives forever; the goal is to establish churches that can either function independently or become full, regular parts of the UMC structure. The Cambodia Mission Initiative announced its autonomy earlier in the year.
310 NATIONALS IN MISSION WERE SERVING AT THE END OF 2024 AND $1,245,249.38 WAS
AWARDED IN NIM GRANTS.
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Leadership Development Training young leaders in Southeast Asia
Methodist young adults from four Asian Mission Initiative countries of Global Ministries – Cambodia, Laos, Mongolia and Vietnam – gathered Nov. 4-8 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, for 2024 ASCEND. Sponsored and facilitated by Global Ministries, Higher Education and Ministry and the Board of Missions of the Korean Methodist Church, the global leadership development training event provided young Christians with opportunities to learn sound and healthy leadership skills. The three- year certificate program requires participants to meet quarterly online and in-person each November.
I learned a lot about myself, leadership and education, which taught me what is good or not good to lead. As I go back to Mongolia, I want to study leadership in youth ministries and organizations. – Participant from Mongolia
218 SCHOLARSHIPS WERE APPROVED WORTH $1,002,700, WITH 62% AWARDED WITHIN AFRICA.
Scholarships Thankfulness overflows
Professor Garakai Malunga (center) is a 2024 World Communion Scholar studying for a Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health at Africa University in Zimbabwe. At 49 years old, he may not be the typical scholar, but he has a deep appreciation for receiving a scholarship at this time in his life. His research combines both public health and biomedical science. He is investigating two indigenous herbs traditionally used by people experiencing malaria symptoms and interviewing people who have used this remedy to understand the effectiveness and side effects of the herbs. He will then conduct laboratory tests on actual malaria parasites to evaluate toxicity and efficacy of the herbs.
I come from very humble circumstances. This scholarship is crucial to my life. – Garakai Malunga
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Global Ministries and UMCOR respond to humanitarian crises around the world through disaster relief and recovery, migrant and refugee support, environmental sustainability, and agriculture, food security and livelihood initiatives. Alleviating Human Suffering
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GLOBAL HEALTH
Health Systems Strengthening UMC facilities respond to mpox
With support from Global Ministries, UMC health boards and facilities were equipped to respond to an mpox outbreak in DRC, providing essential medical care and education about the virus. The collaboration between health boards and local community leaders, like UMC pastors, played a crucial role in addressing this public health challenge, focusing on prevention, treatment and education to safeguard the health of vulnerable populations.
Before, I didn’t know what mpox was, let alone differentiate it from other skin diseases. Now I can recognize the symptoms and know what to do if I notice them in myself or someone else in my family. – Patrice Lumumba Okeke
GRANTS AWARDED 72
IN TOTAL $5,291,658
PEOPLE REACHED 1,022,176
Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Protecting pregnant women from malaria
Part of prenatal care at the Nganza Health Center in DRC – and for most United Methodist facilities partnering with Global Ministries – is a routine course of malaria prophylactics, much like what travelers take to avoid contracting it. Women also receive a long-lasting insecticide-treated bed net upon arrival at the center, and the combination generally keeps them free of malaria throughout pregnancy. This greatly improves the likelihood of delivering a healthy baby.
I have just given birth to my second son here without difficulty. We are in good health, I don’t have a fever, and my child too, is doing very well. I gave birth in very good conditions at the Nganza Health Center. – Mamu, Patient at Nganza
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Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Well repair led by women in South Sudan
Normally, when a well breaks down in South Sudan and there are no technicians and no parts available, it may be weeks, or even years before a repair crew arrives. The Women’s Well Repair Initiative provides a solution. Through economic resources, self-sustainability and women’s participation in community initiatives, the health care, education and overall stability for communities in which it works increases. Churches nominate candidates, like Julia, a mother of three in Alok whose husband is absent. Her pastor described her as “someone who bore the weight of suffering most acutely within her community.” The congregation voted unanimously to nominate her for the training. Two key partners involved in this training project, Water is Basic (WIB) and Women’s Empowerment Solutions Initiative (WESI) of South Sudan, designed the program to reach 300+ communities in Bhar el-Ghazal.
I am here to represent women and show our community that women, just like men, can play an important role in driving
community development. – Adut, water committee member
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HUMANITARIAN RELIEF AND RECOVERY
Disaster Response Hope after Hurricane Helene
Shortly after Hurricane Helene inundated communities in Western North Carolina with 12 inches to nearly three feet of rain in Septem- ber, Spruce Pine United Methodist Church became a hub for disaster relief. Every square foot of the church was used in service to the community. It offered a food pantry, water, a clothing closet and baby supplies. The Western North Carolina Disaster Response office asked if the church would be willing to host UMC Early Response Teams (ERTs) making plans to travel to the region. Within days, UMCOR awarded the conference a grant to support relief efforts.
$37,619,705 IN
187 GRANTS
TOTAL
AWARDED
Environmental Sustainability and Disaster Response Mobile solar trailers deployed in Georgia
This was the first time we deployed our entire solar array! We had just one panel left in the trailer as a spare. The quiet, clean, renewable energy fueled the heart of the camp. It powered lighting, refrigeration, air conditioning and more. – Tom Staigle, UMCOR ERT member
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Disaster Response Support and relief for Gaza
UMCOR support for relief work in Gaza includes large grants that further the work of partners who can implement large scale distribution of food, water, personal hygiene and other non-food items. Grants also support health care and health facilities that have managed to remain open inside Gaza. Smaller grants of equal importance support organizations that can mount small- scale projects to reach specific vulnerable populations with targeted relief. Contributions to large-scale relief efforts since October 2023 have provided, whenever possible, food rations, fresh food, water, nonfood items such as shelter supplies, hygiene supplies and medical care. Some have also helped with counseling and information sessions about health, wellbeing and avoiding live munitions.
The people of Gaza have experienced suffering so deep that it will be felt for generations to come. Tens of thousands of civilians have been killed, families and whole communities displaced, and almost all infrastructure including homes, hospi- tals and schools destroyed. – Roland Fernandes, Global Ministries General Secretary
Disaster Response Care after triple disasters in the Philippines
Late in the summer of 2024, fishing villages and even inland towns in the Bay of Manila were affected by a triple calamity. Typhoon Carina, a southwest monsoon and oil spills from three different tankers in the same week strained the capacity of communities to recover. The Manila Episcopal Area Disaster Management Office (MEA DMO) supported by UMCOR, assessed the triple disasters and sent out a “call to action.” Churches took a special offering and gave direct aid by distributing food and water. The MEA DMO creat- ed a committee to maximize and ensure a coordinated response for local churches and annual conferences.
In one barangay, the flooding reached up to the neck of the average person. Small boats had to be used to transport goods and people, and it affected everyone. I spoke with a pastor there and he said there is still water on the roads after three months. – The Rev. Joseph Estadilla, District Superintendent and Dean of the Cabinet, Manila Episcopal Area
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Global Migration Meeting Christ at the table
Legacy United Methodist Church in Bismarck, North Dakota, received an UMCOR Mustard Seed Migration Grant to support Ukrainian immigrants in their community. The church held inter-cultural cooking classes so that congregants and community members could teach each other recipes from their home country, creating unity in food and table fellowship despite language barriers.
Wow, I just did a little thing, and it brought so much. Opportunities like this are a great conduit to serve and do God’s work. – Kenton Carlson, Legacy UMC church member
Disaster Response Vital aid for flood survivors 137 HUMANITARIAN CRISES RESPONDED TO
In Tanzania, devastating floods affected thousands at the end of 2023 and into 2024. The disaster displaced families and damaged homes and places of worship. UMCOR mobilized to provide essential aid, working alongside local partners to deliver food, clean water, hygiene supplies and shelter materials to those in need.
UMCOR was the first organization to come to our aid, and support was distributed to everyone, without discrimination … Many Masai have joined the UMC after witnessing
this generosity and compassion.” – Emanuel Matita, resident of the Masai district
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3 EARTHQUAKES In 2024, UMCOR responded to:
32 FLOODS
26 TROPICAL STORMS HURRICANES
Agriculture and Livelihoods New greenhouses in Zimbabwe fuel education
7 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES 25 MIGRATION EVENTS 16 TORNADOES 1 LANDSLIDE
Two greenhouses at The United Methodist Church’s Hanwa Mission are helping to fight climate change and improve education at the mission’s schools. With support from Zimbabwe Volunteers in Mission and Global Ministries’ Yambasu Agriculture Initiative (YAI), the Hanwa community constructed two half-acre greenhouses. YAI also supplied fencing, a hand tractor, a trailer, a plow and pedi-wheels as well as pepper seedlings. Each greenhouse generates significant revenue and creates employment for parents of students. These greenhouses will become a major component of the agricultural curriculum at the Hanwa Mission schools, and a major proportion of the fund gen- erated by this project will go directly back into the schools. – Charlie Moore, Zimbabwe Volunteers in Mission team leader, Balti- more-Washington Conference 10 GRANTS AWARDED TOTALING $1.8 MILLION THROUGH THE YAMBASU AGRICULTURE INITIATIVE
11 FIRES
16 OTHER KINDS OF DISASTERS
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STRENGTH IN CONNECTION
GENERAL CONFERENCE
At the long-awaited 2020 General Conference of The United Methodist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, April 23 - May 3, 2024, Global Ministries submitted 23 petitions for consid- eration by 765 worldwide delegates. Each petition passed with overwhelming majority in committee and was formally approved by full plenary action. The passing of these petitions affirmed Global Ministries and UMCOR’s mandate to work in partnership with congregations, conferences, organizations and individuals as they engage in God’s mission in their local contexts. Areas of work within this body of legislation included religious freedom; peace and justice; global migration; hunger and poverty; disaster recovery; HIV and AIDS; Deaf and Hard of Hearing ministries; and racial and ethnic ministries. During General Conference, Global Ministries also celebrated 200 years of mission and marked several milestones: 5 million children reached through the Abundant Health Initiative; 80 years of UMCOR; commissioning of 16 new United Methodist missionaries; and strengthening of partnerships in Latin Amer- ica and the Caribbean.
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2024-2028 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
United Methodist Committee on Relief Corporate Officers Chair of UMCOR: Bishop David Wilson Vice Chair of UMCOR: Rev. Katie Dawson Secretary: Rev. Marian Royston Treasurer: Charlie Moore
General Board of Global Ministries Corporate Officers President: Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson Vice President: Bishop Joaquina Nhanala
Secretary: Molly McEntire Treasurer: Charlie Moore
Chair of Mission Programs: Dr. Elizabeth Corrie Vice Chair of Mission Programs: Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth
Directors Bethany Amey Northeastern Jurisdiction, Greater New Jersey
Caleb Parker Southeastern Jurisdiction, North Carolina Kenneth Pembamoto Congo Central Conference, South Congo Rev. Rene Avalos Perez Northeastern Jurisdiction, New England Rev. Corey Daniel Perry North Central Jurisdiction, West Ohio
Luis R. Fuentes-Mercado Methodist Church of Puerto Rico
Beverly “Nichea” VerVeer Guy North Central Jurisdiction, Michigan Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson Southeastern Jurisdiction, Virginia Episcopal Area
Rev. Max Zuñiga Aguinaldo Philippines Central Conference, Northern Philippines
Rev. Andy Bartel Western Jurisdiction, Alaska
Rev. Kim Ingram Southeastern Jurisdiction, Western North Carolina
Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth Western Jurisdiction, Greater Northwest Episcopal Area
Rev. Margaret Johnson South Central Jurisdiction, Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference
Hamu Chigwada Western Jurisdiction, Mountain Sky
Lallene Rector Northeastern Jurisdiction
Rev. Marian Royston Southeastern Jurisdiction, North Alabama Rev. Olav Schmidt Germany Central Conference, Germany Bishop David Wilson South Central Jurisdiction, Great Plains Episcopal Area Jane Wood Southeastern Jurisdiction, Western North Carolina Rachel Wright South Central Jurisdiction, Rio Texas
Mildred “Mimi” Kubai South Central Jurisdiction, Great Plains Kelly G. Loeb South Central Jurisdiction, Missouri Molly McEntire Southeastern Jurisdiction, Florida
Jon Copeland South Central Jurisdiction, Missouri
Dr. Elizabeth Corrie Southeastern Jurisdiction, North Georgia Michael Davis-Wilson North Central Jurisdiction, Indiana Rev. Katie Dawson North Central Jurisdiction, Iowa Jean-Paul Dietrich Central and Southern Europe Central Conference, Switzerland Stephanie Dressler Southeastern Jurisdiction, North Georgia
Michael Mitchell Western Jurisdiction, California Pacific
Charlie Moore Northeastern Jurisdiction, Baltimore-Washington Bishop Joaquina Nhanala Africa Central Conference, Mozambique Episcopal Area Bishop Israel Painit Philippines Central Conference, Davao Episcopal Area Dr. Glenn Paraso Philippines Central Conference, Philippines
Roland Fernandes General Secretary Ex-officio member
Rev. Okito Lutuku Fiston Congo Central Conference, Central Congo Anne Ng Forster Northern Europe Central Conference, Norway
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