Aldersgate Camp & Retreat Center

Located in a beautiful mountain setting near Ravenna, KY, Aldersgate Camp is the Methodist camp for the Eastern portion of the Kentucky Conference of the Methodist Church. Children, teens and adults have opportunity to learn about Christ through many outdoor activities. Aldersgate hosts groups year-round and has a full summer program of camps for children and youth. Construction and maintenance assistance is always needed. Contact Lee Padgett, Camp Director, via e-mail at: aldersgate@irvineonline.net You can learn more by clicking on this link: Aldersgate Camp and Retreat Center - Ravenna, KY

Faith Promise

The majority of our missions funding comes through our Faith Promise program. Faith Promise is an opportunity for God to use you for missions. Through prayer, individuals ask God to impress an amount of money the He will provide for mission through them. In early March each year we have Faith Promise Sunday at which time we ask individuals to complete Faith Promise cards so we will know what God is going to do through our church in the coming year. It is important to understand that this is not a pledge. It is the individual's job to continue praying and to have faith that God will provide, in an extraordinary way, the funds for mission. Stories abound on the ways that God has seen fit to bless the faith of individuals. Unexpected funds have arrived, new business opportunities have presented themselves, expected expenses didn't materialize, and the list goes on and on. As God provides, you share those funds with the church denoted for "Faith Promise", and they are channeled through our Missions Committee to the missions you see described here. Faith Promise is a chance to get closer to Christ through faith and share Him with the world through missions!

Estonia

For 50 years, starting in 1940, Estonia was occupied by Communist Russia. Ethnic, cultural and religious persecutions were wrought upon the once free peoples. During the occupation, nearly 25% of the population was deported to Siberia. All of Estonia bore great loss, but the church suffered most of all. Anti-Christian Soviet legislation systematically persecuted and closed churches. Many church leaders were martyred.

On August 20, 1991 Estonia regained her independence and started the long road back to economic and religious recovery. The Methodist Baltic Mission Center, in downtown Tallinn, was built with funds from around the world and was the first church in Estonia's capital since WW II. The BMC, http://www.bmk.ee/indexenglish.html, was created as a worship center and to house the Baltic Methodist Theological Seminary, http://www.emkts.edu.ee/eng.htm. Several Asbury Seminary professors whose church home is First United Methodist have assisted at the BMTS.

Other churches are being reestablished and First United Methodist is helping with the effort. We will send our third mission team to Estonia this summer. This team, made up mainly of youth, will witness to young people in Tallinn.

You can be a part of this mission effort in supporting the people of Estonia, the Estonian church and our mission team with your prayers and your financial support for the upcoming trip.

Representative Payee Program
The First United Methodist Church acts as the representative payee for certain Social Security and Veteran recipients who are unable to look after their own money or who are referred by a physician. Social Security allows agency to collect a small stipend from the recipient's monthly check for services but First Church has decided to offer this ministry to those in need at no cost. First Church  pays the bills and sends out weekly allowances to clients.

The Hope Center

The Hope Center is a private, nonprofit organization that coordinates and provides life sustaining/life rebuilding services to Lexington's homeless and at-risk persons. Services offered include shelter, food, clothing, a recovery program, employment, housing, health clinic, mental health services, social services, and outreach. To inquire about current volunteer opportunities or needed items, call 252-7881.

Charles and Patty Maddox--Haiti

Charles and Patty Maddox are missionaries of the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church. They are assigned as the Volunteers in Mission Coordinators in Haiti. Working with the Methodist Church of Haiti, which is a district of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas, Charles and Patty coordinate the work and financial resources for the Methodist Guest House and the United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) program. You can learn more about Charles and Patty and their mission by clicking this site: http://gbgm-umc.org/missionvolunteers/haiti

Reid and Lola Buchanan

Reid, a civil engineer and graduate of Asbury Theological Seminary, and Lola, a registered nurse, are serving at the Ankaase Methodist Faith Healing Hospital in Ghana, West Africa. In response to God's call to missionary service, Reid and Lola will partner with the Ghanaian church to reach the unreached people through their ministry with the Ankaase Hospital. Reid and Lola are sponsored through The Mission Society For United Methodist. 

David and Lorene Persons--Congo

Dr. David Persons is a United Methodist missionary of the General Board of Global Ministries serving in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as dean and professor of Biblical studies and missions at the Faculte Methodiste de Theologie in Mulungwishi, Katanga. He is involved with training Congolese pastors for two annual conferences.

Lorene Persons is a United Methodist missionary of the General Board of Global Ministries serving in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She is serving as director of the Women's School of the Faculte Methodiste Theologie in Mulungwishi, Katanga.

You can learn more about David and Lorene and their mission by clicking this site:
http://gbgm-umc.org/mission/people/personsd.html

Mel and Fran Noah--Brazil
Melvin Noah

Melvin, son of retired United Methodist missionaries Raymond and Cleo Noah, was born in Pratt, Kansas on August 12, 1944.  When he was six years old, his parents moved to Portugal where they learned Portuguese before heading to Angola, Africa where they served.  They also served in former Southern Rhodesia, present-day Zimbabwe, and Brazil before retiring to western Kansas.

Melvin graduated from Asbury College in 1968 and taught two years at Bryan Station High School before he and Fran applied for missionary service with OMS International, INC (the former Oriental Missionary Society).  They first arrived in Brazil in October of 1972.

Every furlough has been spent in Wilmore where he pursued two masters and a doctorate in missionology.  At present he teaches inductive Bible courses at the Londrina Seminary and also serves as OMS Field Director, Londrina Seminary Board Chairman and interim pastor of the Airport Missionary Church, the OMS-related national church.

The Noahs have three grown children:  Chris, married to the former Jennifer Pike, living and teaching middle school in Louisville, KY; Neil, engaged to be married to Shauna Stewart of Kokomo, IN on June 29, a videographer for the Fayette Co. government; and Jennifer, serving a short-term in Brazil working with English evangelism.

Fran Noah

Fran was born in Bradenton, Florida on June 15, 1946.  She graduated from Asbury College in 1968 with a secondary education English degree.  She and Melvin were married in December 1969.  She taught two years in the US and a year and a half in Brazil where she worked with missionary kids.  Over the years in Brazil she has served in a variety of ministries:  hostess, mission secretary, mission treasurer, and in women's work.  Presently she is teaching English in the seminary language institute and together with Melvin leads the couples' ministry in their local church.

Larry and Joy McPherson--Uganda 
Our main ministry is training church planters and pastors in two-three day seminars each month.  There are five locations for the seminars.  We also try monthly to visit each of the pastors in both the Soroti and Busia areas, where we are responsible.  We also meet regularly with the pastor of our first established church, which is here in the city.  We both are involved
in various Christian Education activities in the local church and Larry represents the Mission on the Local Church Council.  I work with the weekly Bible Club to lead the children in games.  Each Tuesday I also work with high school girls in basketball skills.  I also am on the Community Based Health Care Management Committee and we do much counseling.

David and Lori Long--Hong Kong/China

   Our ministry with OMS began in 1995 when we moved to Macau, the Portuguese enclave 40 miles west of Hong Kong which returned to Chinese sovereignty in 1999.  We lived in Macau for three years then moved into mainland China for about a year.  We returned to Hong Kong in the summer of 2000 after a year furlough in the US.  Lori and I now spend a portion of our time serving in a small church in Hong Kong where we lead a Bible study for the young people and I am occasionally asked to preach.  I have  been returning to Macau once a month where I also lead a Bible study and preach.  Beginning this weekend, Lori and I will be meeting with a couple in Macau for pre-marital counseling.  Lori is also involved in several women's Bible study groups here in Hong Kong and volunteers extensively at International Christian School. Another major focus for me is the United Wesleyan Graduate Institute which we have opened and are trying to get established.  The seven organizations with a Wesleyan heritage which have joined in the seminary effort represent approximate 70 churches (5%) in Hong Kong.  In two weeks I will finish teaching the first year of Introductory Greek and I am generally in charge of finances for the seminary.  However, with so few of us to work on such a large project we each end up wearing several hats.  We feel that by offering biblically based theological education
we can both strengthen the church in Hong Kong and serve the church in China. That also fairly states the goal which Lori and I have for our work, to strengthen the church in China.  Sometimes that's through preaching and teaching.  Sometimes it is by communicating by e-mail with a friend in China who has become a believer or spending a little time with the young people in Hong Kong and Macau.  We often have to trust that the Lord is doing more with our efforts than we are able to see.  But, it is a privilege to be able to participate in this portion of the body of Christ. Oh yes!  I have to add that we continue with our language study, trying to learn to write and speak (Cantonese dialect) Chinese.  I wish, like the Chinese, we had started that project when we were three years
old. Our children all attend International Christian School, of which OMS was one of the founding organizations.  It was originally intended to meet the needs of missionary kids but now its student body of over 500 is made up primarily of overseas born Chinese.  Ben, 16, is in the 10th grade.  Anna, 15 , is in the 9th grade.  Abby, 12, is in the 6th grade.  They all love living in Hong Kong.

God's Pantry Food Bank

To accomplish this mission, they operate four major programs:

The Food Bank acts as a clearinghouse for surplus, improperly weighed, cosmetically imperfect and about-to-expire food and non-food products from donors.  These products are distributed to more than 300 private, non-profit organizations such as soup kitchens, homeless shelters, abuse centers, senior programs, day care centers, and emergency food box programs.  The Food Bank allows agencies throughout central and eastern Kentucky to get food and non-food items that they otherwise would be unable to obtain.  Last year, over 5.6 million pounds of products were distributed to agencies serving those in need.

Nutrition Education Programs encourage self-sufficiency among low-income parents through six-week workshops called Super Pantry (conducted throughout the service area) and one-day sessions in an on-site training kitchen.  These workshops teach participants important nutrition and life skills such as budgeting, self-esteem and job readiness.  During each session, parents prepare a meal together and receive the groceries necessary to prepare that same meal at home for their families.

The Emergency Food Box Program provides a week’s supply of nutritious food to an average of 900 families a month in Fayette County.  These families are referred by local social service agencies and churches and receive food boxes through a network of six neighborhood food pantries.

The Kids Café program is an initiative developed by America’s Second Harvest that provides free evening meals to children at risk of hunger in an environment that is safe, friendly and within their own neighborhood.  God’s Pantry currently operates six Kids Cafes at various sites throughout Lexington.  These programs are a collaborative effort involving churches, community centers, and volunteers from the community.

For more information on God’s Pantry’s programs or ways that you can help, please call (859) 255-6592, or visit their website at www.godspantry.org.

Lighthouse, Tallinn, Estonia

Lighthouse is a day center for children who are under-privileged, or having difficulties at home (usually with a step-parent)

The center offers

• Love, care and attention regardless of the child's nationality (both Estonian and Russian kids are welcome)
• One hot meal a day
• Possibilities to take care of the personal hygiene
• Indoor activities (bible studies, art classes, English classes, computer games). In the fall there will be music lessons and a class on the Estonian language, which will help Russians integrate into the society.
• Field trips (museums, the zoo, etc.)
• Outings (picnics, grill-outs, orienteering games, treasure hunts, riding a boat, days on the beach, etc.) Friends from the Holston Conference treated us to the amusement park for the whole day in June.
• Sports activities (we used to rent a gym, now we are in the back yard of the building, or in the park nearby)
• Summer Camps (our own camp on the island of Vormsi hosted 14 kids, 13 scholarships were provided to Camp Gideon in July)

On January 12, 2001 the Board of the UMC in Estonia approved the idea to found a non-profit organization affiliated with the Methodist Church.

The center was founded on January 17, 2001 and Olav Pärnamets, the Superintendent of the Church was one of the founding members.

Right now, our Board consists of the members of the UMC in Tallinn, both from the Estonian and the Russian church. Also our staff members come from both churches. According to the by-laws 2/3 of the Board should be Methodist. We are also subject to present our books to the Annual Conference of the UMC for auditing every year. Being affiliated with the Church provides us with the system of accountability that we enjoy. Being an independent organizations allows us to benefit from the programs offered to such organizations by the state.

Visit  Lighthouse

Lexington Rescue Mission

On April 1, 2001, Jim Connell (Executive Director) moved from Columbus, IN to a small apartment in Lexington to follow the Lord’s calling to start a Rescue Mission in Lexington, KY. About six months earlier, Jim had first contacted the AGRM to seed guidance about opening a mission. After several discussions with mission leaders, Lexington was identified as one of the larger targeted cities in the Midwest needing a Rescue Mission. With only one secular shelter serving single homeless men, it was clear that a Rescue Mission was greatly needed in Lexington.

Churches were contacted and an information meeting was held about a month later to generate local leadership interest in establishing a Mission. Shortly afterwards a local board of directors was formed. In August 2001, a 3,600 square foot, two-story Mission building was purchased using a major gift received from a Lexington couple as the down payment. In November, AGRM Trustees voted to support the Lexington Rescue Mission as its Major Expansion Project over the next three years beginning July, 2002.

After some limited remodeling, the mission launched its feeding program on Thanksgiving Eve, 2001. Nearly 200 men, women and children gathered at a nearby large downtown church to enjoy traditional turkey dinners. The Mission now offers free lunches on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Half-hour chapel services precede the meals. Bible studies begin as soon as lunch is over, and free clothes are distributed to those in need following the Bible study.

Upcoming plans include evening chapel services with a meal and an 8-week Christian recovery program. Remodeling continues at the mission with the goal of opening a 6 – 12 month men’s residential program for 20 homeless men by the fall of 2002.

International Leadership Program

The purpose of the International Leadership Program is so develop strong, international, leaders of leaders. They focus on the critical needs for today's pastors and churches:

• Effective biblical preaching
• Visionary leadership
• Personal spiritual formation
• Skills and tools for cutting-edge ministry

The International Leadership Track builds on the present Beeson Pastor program, but is uniquely designed for the accelerated development of international leaders. It selects international leaders who cannot leave their ministries for extended study, but who still want to advance in leadership and preaching in order to multiply the church in their home country.

First Church is one of 10 churches nationwide who are sponsoring students for this program. First Church is sponsoring Nabil Samara.

The International Leader Track is a full-scholarship program, working towards the realization of the D.Min. degree. All expenses connected with the program are covered as follows:

• Tuition and required books
• Laptop computer (yours to keep)
• Travel expenses from your home country to Asbury Theological Seminary (four round-trip tickets, one per year)
• Lodging and food for the period of time that you are on campus
• Site-trip costs including registration fees, travel expenses to/from the selected teaching churches or retreat centers, and food and lodging while there.

Nabil recently wrote: " Dear Church members, friends and family, Sanah and I are very thankful to God and to you for your help and support for my studies. Here is a brief letter in order to update you on what has been happening with us the last two months.

A few days after we arrived in Israel this summer, I was appointed the Director and Coordinator of Bethlehem Bible College in Nazareth, Galilee. This College has been in existence for only a few years. There have been some classes that were taught here and there in various places and churches. Therefore, I had to find a good place in which to have our classes, furnish the place with needed items, rearrange the files of all the students who have ever studied in the College (beginning with classes in 1992), and contact teachers who could help teach some classes. I also had to contact students. By using public transportation, I visited 16 churches and publicized the college and classes. The fear of suicide bombers has made the use of public transportation very stressful. In other words, I had to start the college from the ground up. However, God has given us a great opportunity for ministry.

With the help of God, I was able to rent a good place that has two classrooms. One of the rooms we have already furnished. I have worked on and completed the students’ files. Six other teachers were contacted, and they will help in teaching classes. I will also teach three classes: OT, NT, and Writing Skills (Arabic). We presently have 40 students who have registered for this fall. (We are hoping to have more students by the end of this month.) Eleven of these students are Catholic. They have quit studying at the Catholic College and are coming to be trained in our college. "We know that you would teach us pure Christian biblical teachings," was their answer to me when I asked about the reason they wanted to study at Bethlehem Bible College.

As for the other side of my ministry: I am working right now on planting two churches in the region of Galilee. I have visited two different villages, where I plan to plant these churches. God has been with us in meeting good people there who are interested in helping us and are open to the work of God. You should know that more than 65% of the population in these villages is Muslim. At some point we will face resistance and persecution. Yet, God has called us for such ministry. Some of our family members have labeled us, (Sanah and me), as "insane people" for being willing to live in one of these villages among these Muslim people.

The last two months have been very busy times for our family, and very many things are yet to unfold. Regardless of the outcome of our situation, we are very sure that we are in God’s will, and that is what really matters above all things. Please keep our ministry and us in your prayers

Sanah and Jana send their warm greetings to you all from the Holy Land.

God bless you all,

Nabil