Please download the MONTHLY MISSION STORY for your church bulletin or newsletter:   
            September 2009: text only or pdf or español
            October 2009: text only or pdf or español

To download the WEEKLY PRAYER for Sunday Worship, click here: Laos

Alternative Christmas 2009: It's never too early to start thinking about opportunities for Alternative Christmas gifts – and Global Ministries has the 2009 materials ready for your church's Alternative Giving Fair. For ideas and more information, click here: http://globalministries.org/get-involved/special-giving-opportunities/alternative-christmas-ideas-for.html or contact Sarah Riester at sriester@dom.disciples.org or 317.713.2564 to request a display.

A Call to Pray and Act for Peace on September 21, 2009
In 2001, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution marking September 21 of each year as the International Day of Peace: http://www.un.org/en/events/peaceday/2009/ The intention of the resolution is to have the entire world observe a day of peace and nonviolence. To celebrate the day the World Council of Churches calls on people of faith worldwide to pray for peace on September 21 2009 or the closest Sunday. The International Day of Prayer for Peace http://overcomingviolence.org/en/about-dov/international-day-of-prayer-for-peace.html offers an opportunity for church communities in all places to pray and act together to nurture lasting peace in the hearts of people, their families, communities and societies. This year Odyssey Networks, a communications partner of the UCC and Disciples, is encouraging a million people to pledge that they will join together to pray for peace for one minute on September 21.  Go to "A Million Minutes for Peace" to see a video about the campaign and to sign the pledge, and take time out on September 21 to pray and act for peace.  http://www.odysseynetworks.org/Causes/PeaceHome/OdysseyPSA/tabid/191/Default.aspx 

National Council of Churches of Nepal Leader Urges Churches to Speak Out
"In an interview with Union of Catholic Asian News (UCA News), K.B. Rokaya, general secretary of the National Council of Churches of Nepal (NCCN) and vice president of Interreligious Council Nepal, speaks on how Churches can join the political mainstream and help solve problems faced by society. Rokaya says Churches should speak up on issues that are directly related to the people and not remain isolated as closed communities…" To read the interview, click here: http://globalministries.org/news/sasia/nepal-protestant-leader.html

Churches Find Role in "New Zimbabwe"
"Rev. Dr Solomon Zwana, new general secretary of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches, says his organization and his country need the prayers and support of the world. Speaking at a hearing on Zimbabwe held 1 September during World Council of Churches central committee meetings in Geneva, Zwana said it is a time of great transition in the African nation. A fragile power-sharing government is in place, a new constitution is being drafted, steps are being taken to stabilize an economy victimized by runaway inflation and high unemployment over the past decade, and efforts are beginning to heal the scars of recent turmoil…" To read more, click here: http://globalministries.org/news/africa/churches-find-role-in-new.html

Promote Fair Trade Chocolate on Halloween
"West African economies are critically dependent on cocoa. But with 70% of the cocoa you find in stores coming from West Africa, buying fair trade chocolate is an excellent way to break the chocolate companies' reliance on child labor. Through Reverse Trick-or-Treating, kids give Fair Trade chocolate back to adults while trick-or-treating on Halloween!  A pleasant surprise will greet nearly a quarter million people distributing candy at their door, when, instead of demanding chocolate, youth hand adults a sample of vegan-friendly, Fair Trade dark chocolate. The chocolate is attached to a card with information about social and environmental justice issues in the cocoa industry and how buying Fair Trade certified chocolate provides a solution…" To learn more about this justice initiative, click here: http://globalministries.org/news/africa/fair-trade-chocolate.html

Annual Report Received from Mungeli Christian Hospital in India
"This past year has been one with lots of excitement at Christian Hospital in Mungeli including the building of relationships, new programs, and some challenges as well.  Some of the endeavors are the planning of the new school building, the new cancer therapy center, and the possibility of beginning an Auxiliary Nurse Midwife Course.  Meanwhile, the number of patients treated continues to rise each year. To read the entire report, click here:  http://globalministries.org/news/sasia/annual-report-of-christian.html

If you would like to receive directly to your inbox these weekly Global Ministries updates, please send your name, e-mail address, physical address, phone number, and home church to: bshebeck@dom.disciples.org

Upcoming Ministries and Mission Interpreters (MMI) Training Events:

• Cleveland, Ohio: October 9-11, 2009 beginning with dinner on Friday and going through Sunday at noon. Radisson Gateway, Cleveland, OH.  Registration deadline extended until September 18, 2009 To register for the event go to: http://globalministries.org/calendar/mmi-october-2009.html 
• Southern California: Saturday, October 31, 2009 sponsored by the Pacific Southwest Region (DOC) and the Southern California-Nevada Conference (UCC) – For more info, contact Larry Hixon larryhixon@yahoo.com or got to: http://globalministries.org/calendar/mmi-training-in-claremont.html 
• Enid, Oklahoma: April 22-23, 2009 in conjunction with the Oklahoma Regional Assembly. More information coming…
• Greensboro, North Carolina: Monday June 21, 2010 @ 6:30pm  to Wednesday June 23, 2010 @ 1:30pm, before the Disciples Women's Quadrennial Assembly. For details, visit: http://www.quadrennial.org/Pre_QA_Events.html

Find a Missionary Visit in your State:
IA: September 1 – October 11 and October 17-31, 2009, John Campbell-Nelson (Indonesia/Timor) Contact: Hal and Donna Rusk h.rusk@mchsi.com
CT: September 13 – October 8 and October 12-31, 2009 Lydia Bartholomew (Jerusalem) Contact: Cecile Gilson cecileg@ctucc.org
MD: September 17 & 26, 2009 Marla Schrader (Palestine) Contact: Allison Smith pastor@bethesdaucc.org
MD: October 18 & November 1, 2009, Marla Schrader (Palestine) Contact: Robert Maddox robtjr11@comcast.net
AZ: January 11 – March 6, 2010, Mark Behle (Lesotho) Contact: Barbara Decker bdecker@uccswc.com
MA: March 20-21, 2010, Mark Behle (Lesotho) Contact: Marilyn Crosby marilyncrosby@yahoo.com
WI: April 11 – May 16, 2010, Mark Behle (Lesotho) Contact: William Kesting wkesting@excel.net