Mission Moment
"I pray … that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love." — Ephesians 3:16-17, NRSV
Nine-year-old Cadence has a heart for others. When a classmate faced bullying on the school bus, Cadence asked to start riding the bus to school. She saved a place for her friend, and the bullying stopped. This young "mom" of two pets loves to help with her church's creation-care committee that, among other things, coordinates an annual blessing of the animals. The United Methodist Children's Fund for Christian Mission is for kids like Cadence.
A joint program of Discipleship Ministries and Global Ministries, the fund helps children respond to God's presence and love as they learn to care for others, develop good habits of giving of themselves and monetarily, build their knowledge of global cultures and practice being in mission. Global Ministries selects projects related to children, and Discipleship Ministries provides resources to promote the fund.
Through the fund, local churches educate girls and boys about other places in the world as well as important mission issues related to children, nurture children in stewardship and mission giving and raise money for various children's projects related to The Advance. Since 1948, The Advance has helped channel over 3 million gifts totaling more than $1.6 billion to thousands of ministries around the world.
The Children's Fund for Christian Mission roots and grounds children in love—teaching and encouraging them to share the good news of Jesus Christ. Thank you!
Offertory Prayer
Loving God, help us to nurture children in love for you and for others. Teach us, as we teach them, how to reach out with your compassion. Remind us that your family is much bigger than our little neighborhood and your love is big enough for all. Amen.
From Discipleship Resources: Tenth Sunday After Pentecost/in Kingdomtide — Creator and Sustainer, you have so lovingly and graciously provided for every need from your abundance. As we offer our gifts to you this morning, we carry burdens for what we have held back, confessing our worry about "not having enough" at the same time we proclaim your abundant provision. We pray that as Christ sends us in the world, we may hear his caution to travel lightly, not weighing ourselves down as we travel this journey set before us. In Christ's mighty name. Amen. (Mark 6:1-21)
Newsletter Nugget
"Children are born with an innate sense of wonder and faith that is real and authentic. As teachers and leaders, our role is to provide a foundation of experiences on which children build a life of learning and growth toward a mature and vital faith." — Discipleship Ministries
Thanks to the United Methodist Children's Fund for Christian Mission, the youngest members of God's family model Jesus' words in Matthew 25. Through their gifts, children reach out to their peers in many ways. They feed them, quench their thirst, clothe them, heal them and shelter them.
United Methodist Global Ministries and Discipleship Ministries coordinate the Children's Fund for Christian Mission. Global Ministries selects projects and distributes funds; Discipleship Ministries develops resources for congregations.
Generosity expressed through the Children's Fund for Christian Mission means education, nutritious meals, health care, a safe haven for orphans and other vulnerable children, and much more. That is mission at its best!