Global Missions
Missionaries
Church of the Saviour currently supports the following United Methodist missionaries:
- Thomas & Christine Denman in Kentucky
- Esther Gitobu in Cambodia
- David & Lorene Persons in Democratic Republic of the Congo
New Orleans
On July 12, the third work team sent by Church of the Saviour left for New Orleans to help address the many construction issues facing the residents. Ray Holt and Jim Johnston, from previous teams, were joined by La Valle Dorsey and Steven Billington. La Valle, a retired fire chief, had some interesting tools which firemen use when they enter a burning building and which speeded the demolition process. La Valle also volunteered his van and provided a lot of leadership. Steven, who is a graduate student, did a lot of the heavy lifting and had some new experiences to apply to his Urban Studies program.
Our days were spent across the river stripping out a 1960's house which was not flooded but had some hurricane damage, so all the plasterboard from the walls and ceilings had to be removed. In front of every other house in this neighborhood stood a FEMA trailer. (You can see how slowly things are coming along when you realize the storm hit 11 months ago.) It was 95 degrees and 90 percent humidity outside.
Carrollton UMC was a beehive of activity. The first thing we did was inspect the shower room we started building last December. It was very exciting. This week there were some 70 students and adults sleeping in the large room (now divided in half for sleeping) where we had camped out, and the shower room had a sign directing the girls to the left and the boys to the right. There are only seven showers, but without them, housing large groups of volunteer workers would be impossible. They also had a new commercial washer and dryer, a new large refrigerator and freezer, and they hired lots of kitchen help (which adds to the local economy) for the larger groups. They have also converted a storage room into a tool room with buckets of hammers, etc., and other specialized tools.
On Sunday, we attended services at Williams Church, a small, African-American congregation near Carrollton. We bunked in the Williams Church that night, some in the sanctuary and some in the parsonage.
Further work trips to New Orleans are being planned. Please contact the Global Missions Council to donate your time or money to support this project.
Jim Johnston
Africa trips
United Methodist Volunteers In Mission (UMVIM) invites Church of the Saviour members and friends to consider a mission trip to Mutare, Zimbabwe in July 2007. The group would leave on July 3 or 4 and return on July 19. Their primary focus will be to build a school for adult learning opportunities. The team could also use at least one volunteer to teach basic automobile mechanic skills.
Haiti mission trip report
The 2006 mission team to Haiti returned safely with a renewed sense of need and opportunity for ministry. We wish to thank all who prayed for and contributed to this mission effort. We are also grateful to our district superintendent, Rev. Dan Drew, who allowed us to make this trip as representatives of Ohio's North Coast District of the United Methodist Church.
The Cap Haitian district of the Methodist Church consists of 10 churches which operate six schools, two clinics and community banks that support small business development. The purpose of our trip was to learn how the Methodist churches in northern Ohio can establish a Christian connection with the Methodist church and school in this region of Haiti. The small team size (consisting of Tim Persons, Andrew Persons, Bill Benish and Erik Marshall of Garfield UMC) facilitated travel in this mountainous region and provided opportunities that may not have been available to a larger group. During our visit, we helped build a new wall in Dondon, treated patients, observed classes, sang and spoke in church, shared communion, and shared in fellowship with many wonderful people. The team also worked to identify and document opportunities for future missions such as assisting the Dondon school develop and improve water supply, bathrooms, maps, books, tuition support, and support for the school lunch program. In all the team's activities, we celebrated our oneness in Christ and communicated the fact that Ohio's North Coast District has not forgotten the suffering of the people and Church in Haiti.
Please keep our Haitian brothers and sisters in Christ in your prayers. We encourage the United Methodist churches along the north coast of Ohio to take full advantage of this new connection with the Methodist Churches along the north coast of Haiti.
Bill Benish
Kairos Ministry
Kairos is a ministry seeking to make disciples inside of prisons. It is an act of love on the part of the volunteers who go inside the prison walls to witness to the Lord. One aspect of this love is giving home-baked cookies to the inmates and correctional officers.
The Rev. Ray Holt, who works with the Kairos Prison Ministry, requests fresh, home-baked cookies twice a year to support the Ministry's efforts. As people bake the cookies, they are asked to pray that the person who will receive the cookies would feel the outpouring of Jesus' love.