UNITED METHODIST VOLUNTEERS IN MISSION (UMVIM)
More news about missions can be found by joining the East Ohio United Methodist Volunteers in Mission Facebook group.
July 28
Visit Christian Children’s Home of Ohio | September 29
From David Walker of Christian Children’s Home of Ohio
For over 50 years, the Christian Children’s Home of Ohio (EOC Mission Advance, Fund 9977) has provided a safe environment where abused and traumatized children find healing, discover hope, and experience unconditional love. We are home to as many as 46 children aged 6-18 who live in five cottages, go to school, and attend worship services on our beautiful 165-acre campus in Wooster.
Our residential program features a variety of therapeutic approaches designed to meet the mental, emotional, physical, recreational, and spiritual needs of each child. Many of the children arrive with only a garbage bag filled with a few items of clothing. Their lives have been turned upside down by abuse, neglect, and trauma of all kinds. We try to let these kids “just be a kid” for a while. Our team employs a trauma-effective approach to engage residents in a calm and compassionate way, eliciting safety and focusing on relationships and connection.
We also help the children experience their worth in Christ. With guardian approval, children can attend Bible study and worship services. We also have a full-time chaplain who interacts with the children every day. We have been named a “Best Christian Workplace” for five years straight. We are accredited by the Council on Accreditation for Children & Families, licensed by the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services, and certified by the Ohio Mental Health & Addiction Services.
We hope you come and visit our campus. The children love having visitors! It makes them feel special. It is truly a unique place where you can feel the presence of the Holy Spirit at work every day.
This visit is free but please RSVP via e-mail by September 22. Tentative agenda for the day can be viewed here.
UMVIM Journey to Michigan | October 17-23
The Michigan Conference is continuing to rebuild and recover from severe floods in 2019 and Rev. Kathryn Adams will be leading a team to Detroit October 17-23 to help renovate flood damaged homes. Construction skills are helpful but not required. For more info, e-mail Rev. Adams.
Other long-term UMVIM recovery projects are listed online here.
Other upcoming trips can be found on our Mission Journeys webpage.
June 25
Mission Mondays Returns in September!
Make plans to spend a Monday this fall at the sites of some of our East Ohio Conference mission partners and bring a guest! Invite youth leaders, mission chairs, lay leaders, and anyone else who is curious about how to engage in missions in East Ohio. Registration is free and you’ll get to experience a behind-the-scenes look at some of our EOC United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) sites:
Times (same for each date): 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
September 27 – Steubenville Urban Mission
October 4 – Epworth Center, Bethesda
October 11 – Covered Bridge Mission, Jefferson
May 14
Misson Trip to Lake Charles, LA: October 18-22, 2021
Strongsville UMC is partnering with area UM churches on a long-term Recovery UMVIM Journey to Lake Charles, LA for Hurricanes Laura/Delta relief. Beginning in late August 2020, Southwest Louisiana was devastated by two hurricanes that followed the same path just six miles apart, one being the strongest hurricane in Louisiana in over 100 years! Eight months later and the region is still in massive disarray with many people displaced from their uninhabitable homes, some even living in their cars. While our original mission trip date last January was postponed due to COVID restrictions, the area is now ready to accept help from mission trip teams.
The work week is October 18-22, 2021. Travel to and from will be during the weekends prior and following the work week. The price is yet to be determined, however our church host has indicated they are able to work with us to make it as affordable as possible given our travel distance. An informational meeting is scheduled for Sunday, July 11 at 6:00 p.m. at Strongsville UMC (13500 Royalton Rd., Strongsville) and may be attended either in person or via Zoom. Register at www.strongsvilleumc.org by July 7 to attend the info meeting. If you are unable to attend the meeting but are interested in learning more about the trip, please register and indicate: unable to attend. The only skill required for this outreach is a strong desire to reach out to these folks in the name of Christ and bring them hope. There are many places and ways for you to serve! The mission team is also seeking people with mission trip experience, especially work team leaders with the gifts of leading the on-site project teams. If you are interested in joining the team to help restore lives in Lake Charles or have questions, please attend the informational meeting or contact Becky Zatezalo at (440) 476-8248 or via e-mail. Becky is on staff at Strongsville UMC and grew up in Lake Charles with family and friends still in the area. This devastation hits close to home for her and she would love to have you join us in bringing love to the people of Southwest Louisiana.
Rev. Kathy Dickriede
Director, Missions & Community Engagement
E-mail
(330) 468-2517
Melanie Thomas
Administrative Assistant
Connectional Ministries/Missions
Ext. 102
E-mail
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The East Ohio Conference Office:
located in North Canton, OH,
near Akron-Canton Airport.
Address:
8800 Cleveland Ave. NW
North Canton, OH 44720
Phones/Fax:
Local: (330) 499-3972
Toll Free: (800) 831-3972
Fax: (330) 499-3279
Office Hours:
Monday through Friday
8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
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