HOPE Fund

In the face of some of this world's harshest realities, the people of the Baltimore-Washington Conference are responding with hope.

By Annual Conference 2009, our goal is to raise $1 million towards the rebuilding of the Mississippi Gulf churches damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, to combat the scourage of AIDs now sweeping the globe and fortify our partnership with those in dire need in Zimbabwe. Please watch the video below to find out more about The HOPE Fund.

Hope Inspires. Hope Heals. Hope Transforms.

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

   The clergy and laity of the Baltimore-Washington Conference are a people of hope.  You are the people who provided hope when others felt hopeless.  Over the past few years, your have provided hope to the Global Aids Fund through the HOPE Fund with your pledges.  You have provided hope to those who have lost so much from the hurricanes on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi as they have begun to rebuild their ministries.  And now you continue to build hope for your brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe who have so little.

  Just a short time ago, as a conference, we stepped out in faith to raise $1 million. To date, we are three-quarters of the way there.  We still need to meet our commitment to Zimbabwe.  We still need to put roofs on top of churches, hospitals, orphanages and clinics.  We still need to put benches in classrooms and churches.  We still need to provide building materials for school construction and to help with the unemployment rate by creating self-worth and economic freedom for families.
 
When you contribute to the HOPE Fund, you build a future for the people of Zimbabwe.  Your generosity will allow churches to rise, clinics to grow and orphanages to reach out to some of the world’s most needy children. 

  Please reproduce the attached flyer and run in your bulletin the next few Sundays or place it in your church newsletter.  We can’t do this alone.  Many of you have already helped but there are still those who have not.  I’m asking that, as a people of God, you open up your hearts once more and give hope.  Bring your donations to the offering at annual conference, which will be held on June 4, when we meet in Baltimore.

Again, thank you for being a hopeful people who give generously to others.  You can find additional resources at www.bwcumc.org/hopefund.   

Your  brother in Christ,
John

John R. Schol
Bishop  
                                                     

Hope For Zimbabwe Bulletin insert  Hope Inspires. Hope Heals. Hope Transforms.  
This bulletin insert will reproduce well in black and white or color.                                                                       

Run For Hope  -  Bishop Schol ran a half-marathon in one hour and 44 minutes to help raise money for our brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe. To see an interview with the Bishop after the race, click here. 

Hope lives as we give.

HOPE Fund resources

The HOPE Fund benefits...

Q&A with Zimbabwe Bishop Eben Nhiwatiwa BWC renews covenant with Zimbabwe Area Africa University The World Factbook - Zimbabwe BWC assists with pastors' school

United Methodist Global AIDS Fund news story from UMNS HIV/AIDS Ministries -- information and resources from GBGM HIV/AIDS -- information and resources from GBCS AIDS in Africa is genocide by indifference, a commentary by Rev. Donald E. Messer

Hurricane Katrina, UMCOR'S long-term response Hurricane Katrina, Advance Special information Katrina relief Mississippi City UMC For more information on The Hope Fund contact Daryl Williams at (800) 492-2525, Ext. 475. or Jo Chesson, Project Coordinator at jchesson@bwcumc.org (800) 492-2525,  Ext. 490.