From the Conference Treasurer

Western North Carolina FIRST IN NATION for 2010!
Thank you! Every Mission Dollar makes a difference!

New! Mission Giving Video!
Check it out! The Women's Division has produced a new online video about YOUR Mission Giving. It is now available on our website.

Mission Giving in Western North Carolina...
Western North Carolina leads the Nation in giving in 2010!

The United Methodist women of the Western North Carolina Conference continue to be NUMBER ONE...for the 10th consecutive year! We have received confirmation from Women's Division that the Western North Carolina Conference was FIRST IN THE NATION for 2010 in the following channels of giving through United Methodist Women:

Special Mission Recognition
Gift to Mission
Gift in Memory
World Thank Offering
TOTAL UNDESIGNATED MISSION GIVING
TOTAL GIVING!!

The United Methodist Women of our conference...YOU...have led the nation in Mission Giving for the last TEN years. Wow! It is an incredible thing to witness the generosity of United Methodist Women in this conference. It is always fun to celebrate being first...but the real cause for celebration is in the mission made possible by your giving. Because of YOU...sharing the love of Jesus Christ will be made possible in places across the country and around the world. Here are just a few of the ways that you are making that possible...many times in places where these things would not otherwise be available:

By providing medical care, including joining the fight against the scourge of HIV/AIDS in Africa, and caring for HIV/AIDS orphans
By providing scholarships, and education & enrichment opportunities for children and youth
By supporting the Bible Women program...which provides training in basic healthcare and Bible study for women from rural communities in some of the poorest countries in the world. These women return home to share their faith and their knowledge with other women in their communities.
By providing opportunities for at-risk youth to stay off of the streets, and away from drugs & violence
By helping to meet basic needs, like clean water, food, and housing
By providing support for national and international mission institutions and programs
By working against injustice
And, more....these are just a few...YOU are in mission around the world

We need to continue to tell the story of the mission made possible by our giving...at every opportunity! Our support for mission projects and personnel around the world makes mission possible...sharing the love of Christ, and touching the lives of women, children and youth.

Our nation and our world are experiencing very challenging economic times. It is a time when women, children & youth need the work of mission institutions and their programs the most. As we plan events and projects for 2011...in local units, districts, and as a conference...telling the story of Mission Giving needs to be a priority. It is not about being #1...it is about making mission possible, and knowing that women, children and youth around the world are being helped by our giving.

If you want to know more about where your money goes, check out the pages of each issue of Response Magazine!

Through your giving...YOU make mission possible, and YOU make a difference, every day, in the lives of women, children and youth around the world.

Thank you!

Watch for this symbol of interlocking circles. You will be reading about a program and/or person supported by your Mission Giving.

Special Mission Recognition

Special Mission Recognition is one of the five channels of Mission Giving. A Special Mission Recognition is a gift to mission in honor of someone...which is symbolized by a small gold pin and a certificate, with various minimum gift amounts for different pins as follows:

Basic Gold Pin - $40.00
Gold pin with Sapphire - $60.00
Gold pin with Pearl - $100.00
Gold pin with Emerald - $200.00
Gold pin with Ruby - $500.00
Gold pin with Diamond - $1,000.00
Gold pin with two Diamonds - $2,000.00

What a wonderful way to honor someone special in your life, in the life of your church, or in the life of your community! Honor someone for their mission service...a friend, a dedicated volunteer, a pastor, a leader of a program or project, a committed United Methodist Woman, a committed United Methodist Man....the possibilities are only limited by your imagination.

It is also a great way to make an alternative gift…by making a special gift to mission in someone’s honor…for a birthday, Christmas, anniversary, graduation, etc.

Both individuals and local units of United Methodist Women can decide to honor someone with a Special Mission Recognition. You may make your gift and order a special mission recognition pin through your local unit treasurer.

Your gifts through Mission Giving form the broad base of mission support that makes a difference, every day, in the lives of women, children, and youth...around the world. Thank You!

The PURPOSE of United Methodist Women
The organized unit of United Methodist Women shall be a community of women whose purpose is to know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ; to develop a creative supportive fellowship; and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church.