Please download the MONTHLY MISSION STORY for your church bulletin or newsletter:  
            April 2009:  text only or pdf or espanol
            May 2009:   text only or pdf or espanol

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

Check out Global Ministries at General Synod and General Assembly:
            GM at General Synod
            GM at General Assembly

Include a project from our global partners in your Vacation Bible School or Camp this summer. VBS Projects

Conference and Region Commit Together to Be a Global Mission Church
This past week-end in Spokane, WA, the Pacific Northwest Conference of the UCC voted at their Annual Meeting to become a Global Mission Conference in partnership with the Northwest Regional Christian Church.  The recommendation came from the joint Global Ministries Committee of the Conference and Region.  A special connection was literally made through Skype with GM missionaries, Liz and Doug Searles in Poland.  Through the miracle of technology they participated in the promises and commitments led by Bing Tso, Wider Church Ministries board member. Ed Evans reports that "there was a palpable energy shift, and audible gasps were heard throughout the room...  I told the conference delegates that Doug and Liz had, in fact, been watching and listening to the debate from their living room in Poland as the discussion and vote unfolded. The emotion was such that I'm told several people - including some who are close friends of Liz and Doug – cried..."  An identical resolution is before the Regional Assembly of Northwest Regional Christian Church in Yakima on May 16.  This time Liz and Doug Searles will be present in person!

To learn more, check out the PNC blog: http://pncuccam2009.blogspotcom/ and the Northwest Region website: http://www.disciplesnw.org/assembly09.html

India People-to-People Pilgrimage Looking for Additional Participants
Fairview Christian Church with the help of Global Ministries is organizing a group trip to visit and serve at Family Village Farm on November 11-22, 2009. The pilgrimage cost will be approximately $3000. The group will help with homework, teach some classes, hold babies, play with the children, share meals and worship together - all as a part of practicing a ministry of critical presence to these lovely children. If you are interested in going on this pilgrimage, contact Rev. Frank Everett or Elzene Gourley at 816-452-2829 or fairview.cc.frank@sbcglobal.net  To read more about the pilgrimage, click here: http://globalministries.org/calendar/india-people-to-people.html

Commitment to Anti-racism despite the US Government Boycott of Conference
"We know from the advocacy and context of our global partners in so many places that structural and individual discrimination is alive and well all around the world, as well as here at home," said the Rev. Cally Rogers-Witte, Executive Minister of the UCC's Wider Church Ministries and Co-Executive of Global Ministries. "We, with — and sometimes on behalf of — our partners, seek to offer voice for those who are victims and to advocate for justice and equality, and for a world free of bias and xenophobia."  To read the entire UCNews article, click here: http://globalministries.org/news/mee/ucc-commitment-at-racism.html

Invitation to Host Global Sisters before the 2010 Disciples Women Quadrennial
To all Disciples Women's Regional Staff and Presidents: You are cordially invited to "travel" to another part of the world without leaving your Region.  You have the opportunity to hear the stories of a very special woman, someone who is making a difference in the lives of people in her country because of your partnership with Global Ministries and the Office of Disciples Women.  Don't miss out on the blessings of hearing about the joys, struggles, daily lives and dreams of a Global Sister and of sharing these stories with others in your Region.  Once you have shared a couple weeks in your Region with your special guest, she will attend Quadrennial Assembly 2010 in Greensboro already knowing some of her USA sisters and having the opportunity to meet women from all over the USA and other parts of the world, sharing her stories and participating in all aspects of an exciting QA for women.  If you want to more about this hosting opportunity, contact Phyllis Hallman, Coordinator 
2010 QA International Program, phallman@q.com  phone: 520-398-2881 Cell: 520-247-6080

GM Announces 2009 First Christian Church Chattanooga Scholarship Fund Recipients
The following students are the 2009 scholarship recipients:

Mrs. Bjoux Makuta is from the Democratic Republic of Congo.  She is the first woman to serve as Assistant Professor of the Disciples in Congo at the Protestant University of the Congo (PUC).  She also is the first female doctoral candidate of the Disciples of Congo.  She is a student in the doctoral program at Protestant Theological University of the Congo.  She is heartily endorsed by Dr. Ngoy Boliya of the Protestant University of Congo and Reverend Eliki Bonanga, head of the Disciples of Christ in the Congo.

The Reverend John M'mbirithi is from the Methodist Church of Kenya.  Reverend M'mbirithi has been serving his church for many years and felt he needed more theological education to renew and improve his ministry.  He is in his third year at the Near East School of Theology (NEST) in Lebanon, working for a Masters of Divinity degree.  According to Mary Mikhael, Ed. D., President of NEST and former CGMB international member, he is a very good student, serious and hard working.  

Maria Garcia and Marilene Ribeiro:  Maria is a member of the Associação Das Educadoras Comunitárias De Saúde (AECS) – the grassroots health program supported by Global Ministries -- and Marilene is a member of the Instituto De Estudos Da Religiao (ISER)  -- an ecumenical institution, partner of Global Ministries, that houses AECS, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  These two women are in their third year of the Nursing Program at the Universidade Castelo Branco in Rio de Janeiro.  They will both graduate in 2010.  When they graduate, they will work in public health centers or public hospitals, wanting to live out their commitment to help the people in the Shantytowns of Rio.  Maria and Marilene themselves are from the Shantytowns and have  overcome many challenges in order to pursue this higher education that will benefit them personally as well as the people in their community.  They are recommended by ISER and by Barbara de Souza, retire GM missionary and current long-term volunteer.

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:
Austin, Texas: Friday, June 5, 2009 from 9am to 3pm @ United Christian Church, 3500 W. Parmer Ln. Austin, TX 78727 For more info and to register, contact: 512-218-8110 or admin-assistant@uccaustin.org
Cleveland, Ohio: October 9-11, 2009 beginning with dinner on Friday and going through Sunday at noon. Radisson Gateway, Cleveland, OH.
Southern California: Saturday, November 14, 2009 sponsored by the Pacific Southwest Region (DOC) and the Southern California-Nevada Conference (UCC) – more info coming

Find a Missionary Visit in your State:
MO, Penn NE, Penn SE, IN, CT& KS: April 5 - May 14, 2009, Mrs. Vatsala Vijayakumar (Principal of the King's Matriculation at School Family Village Farm, Vellore, India) Contact:  Beth Miller (317) 713-2570 or bmiller@dom.disciples.org
Penn SE: April 5 - May 31, 2009, Martha Mensendiek (Japan) Contact: Geneva Butz butz@psec.org
OR: May 1-2, 2009, Jim and Jayanthi Wilson (Kgolagano Theological College in Botswana) Contact: Cathy Wirt cdwirt@aol.com
NC: May 1 – June 30, 2009, Tim Rose (Reformed Church of France) Contact: Janelle Bunn janellebunn@soc-ucc.orgOH: May 1 – June 30, 2009, Scott Couper and Susan Valiquette Couper (UCCSA in South Africa) Contact: Ruth Brandon ruthb@sonkaucc.org and Wayne Chasney pastorwayne@monroevilleuccorg
MO: May 1 – June 15 and July 19-25, 2009, Anil Henry (India) Contact: Danny Stewart danny-ccma@socket.net
MT, WY, UT, & CO: May 4-31, 2009, Bruce Van Voorhis (Hong Kong) Contact: Beth Miller (317) 713-2570 or bmiller@dom.disciples.org
WA: May 16-17, 2009, Doug and Liz Searles (Poland) Contact: Marvin Eckfeldt marveck@comcast.net
GA: May 18 – June 14, 2009 Phyllis Byrd (Kenya) Contact: Ray Miles ray@gadisciples.org
ND: June 5-7, Jim and Jayanthi Wilson (Kgolagano Theological College in Botswana) Contact: Wade Schemmel schemmel@npcucc.org
IL: June 8-25, 2009, Angola Delegation in Illinois Conference (Donna Dudley, GM Missionary in Angola, Luis Samacumbi, Executive for DASEP through the Evangelical Church in Angola, and Rev. Abias Cauto, Executive Secretary of IECA) Contact: Tom Norwalk tnorwalk@sbcglobal.net or ileastucc@comcast.net
TX: July 19-24 and 26-30, 2009, Kevin Howe (CCD in Honduras) Contact: JoAnn Hoel at (254) 694-7981
HI: August 1-31, 2009, Martha Mensendiek (Japan) Contact: Charles Buck cbuck@hcucc.org
IA: September 1 – October 11 and October 17-31, 2009, John Campbell-Nelson (Indonesia) Contact: Hal and Donna Rusk h.rusk@mchsi.com
MA: March 20-21, 2010, Mark Behle (Lesotho) Contact: Marilyn Crosby marilyncrosby@yahoo.com