Eduardo and Claudia Maia in Mozambique

Dr. Eduardo and Claudia Maia are missionaries of the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church serving through the Global Health program in Mozambique. Interview by Rachael Barnett, Global Ministries staff of The Advance. Click Here to Listen to Mozambique Missionaries

Initiatives of Hope

The Virginia Conference has set a goal for all faith communities: to excel in worship, stewardship, evangelism, discipleship, and mission. Initiatives of Hope touches all these areas by offering faith communities in Brazil, Mozambique, and the United States ways of interacting and communicating with each other as instruments of grace to further this goal.

You — and your congregation — can get involved in a variety of ways. Initiatives of Hope has created this website as a resource for involvement in IOH. Click on Mozambique or Brazil to explore ways to join this connectional — and mutual — ministry.

‘Mission,’ as a lifestyle, is one in which we participate in God’s mission of grace and reconciliation, not just on specially designated “mission trips.” Cultivating a mission-focused church revitalizes the congregation. You are welcome to use our Mission, Worship, and Education Resources as materials in teaching the theology of mission and what ‘being missional’ means in Christian education classes, as well as in church programming and worship. Many of these resources were contributed by our partners in Mozambique and Brazil.

National Mission

One of the four areas of focus for The United Methodist Church, which were affirmed at the 2008 General Conference, is serving the poor. The mission field here in the United States is very ripe, as we have 37 million citizens living below the poverty line.

Several of the programs listed here address the issue of poverty. Knowing that poverty is rampant in this country, with its ancillary effects like crime and poor health, is not enough. Action to lift people out of their poverty is necessary.

National Advance Specials lets people who are experiencing difficulties know that they have support from in The United Methodist Church. Being in God’s mission is about developing loving, caring relationships with those in need. The programs listed below have been selected for Virginia United Methodist churches to support. All of these ministries represent The United Methodist Church in action, bringing health and wholeness to those who are in need.

You may choose to give a financial gift to any of the projects listed on this page. They are all official Advance Projects. ONE HUNDRED PERCENT of your contribution goes to the Advance ministry you choose! Simply make your check payable to the "Virginia Annual Conference" and write the ministry name and the Advance code number on the check and send to PO Box 5606, Glen Allen, VA 23058-5606.

National Advance Specials

(Click on the name of the ministry for more information.)

North Carolina: Robeson County Church and Community Center: The Robeson County Church and Community Center seeks to involve people across cultural, racial, class, and denominational barriers in partnership with each other to address social needs and to move in Christ’s name toward solutions (#791742)

District of Columbia: Christ House:A recovery facility that provides for the physical and emotional needs of homeless men and women (#381215)

Kentucky: Red Bird Mission, Inc., Beverly: Community education and outreach programs in rural Appalachia (#773726)

Tennessee: Jubilee Project, Inc., Sneedville: Leadership development and community organizing in a poverty area (#781350)

Florida: Children and Youth Services, Tampa:Ministries for needy infants, children, and youth (#751202)

North Carolina: Hinton Rural Life Center, Hayesville: Resource and training center for small membership rural churches (#731372)

Kentucky: Henderson Settlement, Frakes: Programs for disadvantaged teenagers, parents, and the elderly (#773365)

National Challenge Fund for Hispanic/Latino Ministries:Lay missioners, education, outreach, and evangelism (#982620)

New Mexico: Four Corners Native American Ministry: Facilities, Shiprock. Construction of church facilities on the Navajo Reservation (#581254)

South Dakota: Tree of Life Ministry:A ministry with Native Americans at the Rosebud and Crow Creek Reservations (#123615)

Alaska: Parish Partners, Alaska Missionary Conference: Strengthening of local church mission and ministry and launching of new leadership programs (#931027)

Virginia: Project Crossroads, Inc., Marion: Rehabilitation of older homes and first-time home ownership for low-income families (#781380)

International Missions

John Wesley said “the world is my parish.” The United Methodist Church is global, with an incredible variety of ministries around the world. In Africa, Russia, the Philippines, South America, United Methodist ministries are at work to make life better for all God’s people. From digging wells to providing clean water to caring for infants in places where medical treatment is not readily available to distributing treated bed nets to repel mosquitoes and prevent malaria, your dollars are at work around the world. Through these many ministries, The United Methodist Church are the hands and feet of Christ in the world.

This year The United Methodist Church is putting a special emphasis on a number of projects and pilot programs around the globe to fight poverty. The denomination is also partnering with the World Council of Churches’ effort to eradicate poverty.

Among the more than 1,000 United Methodist projects around the world, the Virginia Conference Board of Global Ministries has selected 15 International Advance Specials to highlight this year. Some have a special connection with the conference and some are located in areas where conference-supported missionaries are engaged in ministry.

You may choose to give a financial gift to any of the projects listed on this page. They are all official Advance Projects. ONE HUNDRED PERCENT of your contribution goes to the Advance ministry you choose! Simply make your check payable to the "Virginia Annual Conference" and write the ministry name and the Advance code number on the check and send to PO Box 5606, Glen Allen, VA 23058-5606.