To download the WEEKLY PRAYER for Sunday worship, click here: Zimbabwe

Day of Action on Darfur, Sunday, April 13.  Visit Save Darfur to join an event in your area. Plan a Tent of Hope event with your congregation, school or community.

Register now for Churches for Middle East Peace Advocacy conference, April 20-22.

GM Receives Updates on the Situation in Zimbabwe
The Africa office of Global Ministries has been in regular contact with our partners in Zimbabwe. One of them reported the following on Wednesday April 9: "Currently the situation is calm and most Zimbabweans are waiting anxiously for the Presidential results to be released.  Daily there are new media reports on processes that might be taking place in this waiting period which most Zimbabweans are not aware of. Such reports are from local and international media." To read the rest of this report, click here: Zimbabwe Partner Report

The New Hampshire Conference of the UCC shares a 12 year partnership relationship with the United Church of Christ in Zimbabwe. Kim McKerley, the ukama/partnership coordinator, has been in contact with the leadership of the UCCZ and encourages us to pray for Zimbabwe. To read Kim's report, click here: New Hampshire Report

CGMB Appoints New Missionaries, Meets with Muslim Leader and Passes Resolution on Japan
The Common Global Ministries Board met in Indianapolis April 3-5. During the meeting the CGMB approved the appointment of eight missionary candidates: Kim and Patrick Bentrott (4 year term to Haiti), Bruce and Linda Hanson (4 year term to Honduras), Erin McKinney (1 year Global Mission Intern term to Dominican Republic), Jeffrey Mensendiek (4 year term to Japan), and Doug and Liz Searles (3 year term to Poland).  The theme of the meeting was: "Peace… at the point of deepest need" The Board had an interfaith dialogue with a Muslim leader from Indiana on the topic of peace in Islam and passed a resolution in favor of Japan's article 9 on peace. To read the resolution, click here: CGMB Resolution

A Call to Practice Environmental Justice as We Celebrate Earth Day on April 22
Addressing climate concerns is a priority stated in Global Ministries strategic directions: "We believe that economics and the environment are subject to the claim of God, and that in a world with a growing gap between rich and poor and the continuing deterioration of the natural environment, we are called to be faithful and prophetic in these areas of life."  Earthcare is a new UCC emphasis on care for the environment in our churches. On April 8, the Collegium of Officers of the United Church of Christ released a significant theological statement on the environment and climate change, "And Indeed It Is Very Good – A Pastoral Letter on Faith and Environment: Living in Community with God's Creation." Whether you are in a UCC or Disciples congregation, consider using some of the worship and study resources on the Earthcare website on Integrity of Creation Sunday (April 20), the Sunday before Earth Day. To learn more about Global Ministries commitment to environmental justice, click here: Environmental Justice

GM Partner in Mexico, INESIN, Sends Report
"The Institute for Cultural Studies and Research (INESIN) has focused its ecumenical efforts on the need for dialogue and understanding among intercultural groups so they can define and articulate their understanding of God, faith, truth, and other aspects of the divine. In 2007, INESIN held a series of workshops on the topics of spirituality, theology, community reinforcement, and support. Groups from diverse communities were trained with the purpose of their taking what they have learned back to the grassroots of their communities. For many, this is the only way they receive an education…" To read the rest of the report, click here: INESIN

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

Find a Missionary Visit in your State:
Penn NE:  April 6 to 30, 2008, Jeffrey Mensendiek (Council on Cooperative Mission, assigned to the Emmaus Center in Sendai, Japan) Contact: Alan Miller alanm@pnec.org
Penn SE: April 6 to May 31, 2008, Dale and Bethsaba Nafziger (National Churches Fellowship of Nepal) Contact: Geneva Butz butz@psec.org
IA: May 1 to June 30, 2008, Linda and Bruce Hanson (The Christian Development Commission (CCD) and The Theological Community of Honduras (CTEH) Contact: Selva Lehman selvarl@mchsi.com
Southern CA: May 1 to June 30, 2008, Jeffrey Mensendiek (Council on Cooperative Mission, assigned to the Emmaus Center in Sendai, Japan) Contact: Virginia Arroyo arroyo@scncucc.org
WV: May 1-31, 2008, Krista Johnson (Sabeel in Jerusalem) Contact: Thad Allen tallen@wvdisciples.org
NC: May 1 to June 30, 2008, Tim Rose (Reformed Church of France) Contact: Janelle Bunn janellebunn@soc-ucc.org
WA: May 10 to June 30, 2008, Ana and Tod Gobledale (Churches of Christ Theological College in Melbourne, Australia) Contact: Marvin Eckfeldt marveck@comcast.net
TN: June 8-30 and July 13-20, 2008, Krista Johnson (Sabeel in Jerusalem) Contact: Glen Stewart glenjstewart@bellsouth.net
IN: July 6-10, July 14-22 and July 28 – August 10, 2008, Alex Morse (Caminantes in the Dominican Republic) Contact: Cheryl Cloar: cheryl@ccindiana.org
CT: September 1, 2008 to April 30, 2009, Tim Rose (Reformed Church of France) Contact: Cecile Gilson cecileg@ctucc.org