Did You Know?

April 2007...
In March, we focused on UMW funding and how SSUMC UMW chose to disperse our remaining 2006 mission funds. The recipients of these gifts included local – NC Prison MATCH (Mothers And Their CHildren), national – Red Bird Mission, and international – UMCOR Undesignated. During the next three months, we will examine each of the recipients more closely to provide a better understanding of their efforts and UMW involvement with them.

Prison MATCH of North Carolina, Inc. provides incarcerated mothers and their children the support and resources necessary to maintain and strengthen their family relationships. Prison MATCH is a non-profit organization that understands all children need their mothers, regardless of where they may reside. Their purpose is to bring children to spend time with their incarcerated mothers in a warm, home-like setting and to show the children they were not abandoned but rather are loved and worthy. Regular visits strengthen the bond between mother and child in hopes of breaking the cycle of children following their mothers’ footsteps to prison.

The program is available to selected mothers at the North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women in Raleigh NC. These mothers must be infraction free and complete an 8-week course in parenting skills. The mother and her children can have monthly 3-hour visits in the MATCH visitation center where they can cook, play games, read, talk, and simply enjoy being together.

Bringing incarcerated mothers and their children together in hopes of breaking the chain of crime and imprisonment improves the lives of these children. With UMW’s focus to make life better for women, children and youth throughout the world, Prison MATCH NC is supported by UMW units throughout the state.

For more information on Prison MATCH NC, please refer to their website at http://www.prisonmatch.org. Now you know!!

March 2007...

United Methodist Women (UMW) is a nearly 1 million member-strong organization of women who seek to know God and to make life better for women, children, and youth. One way we do this is through our financial support. A UMW unit within a church does not receive any funding from the local church; therefore, all of our work is done through member giving and fundraiser projects. UMW funds fall into two categories: Designated Mission Giving and Undesignated Mission Giving.

Designated Mission Giving is just that. It enables the UMW unit to raise and donate funds to a specific need, such as our recent “Soup on Sunday” fundraiser held in February. All proceeds from that event are designated to Bethlehem Center-Charlotte for the Summer Camp program. Undesignated Mission Giving is money used for any part of our mission work and our total program. The Fall Craft Festival is an example of a fundraiser that will go towards Undesignated Mission Giving. Any undesignated mission funds remaining in the unit’s account at the end of the year are to be dispersed. No money is saved for a “rainy day” because today is a “rainy day” for thousands of women, children and youth for whom our mission money offers hope.

SSUMC United Methodist Women recently identified how our 2006 remaining mission funds would be dispersed. We had a total of $3160.42 to be dispersed. The recommendation was made to divide this amount by thirds for local, national and global missions. The missions to whom the money will be sent are:

• Global - UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) Undesignated - $1053.47
  
• National - Red Bird Mission: Beverly, KY - $1053.47
  
• Local - NC Prison MATCH (Mothers And Their CHildren) - $1053.47
  
  

So now you know! When you support any UMW-sponsored event or fundraiser, you can be sure that you are helping UMW make life better for women, children and youth around the world. Thank you!!


February 2007...
The history of United Methodist Women goes back to 1869 when eight women in Boston formed the Women’s Foreign Missionary Society to meet the needs of women and children. Today more than one million women continue this heritage of service to others through our purpose to know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ; to develop a creative, supportive fellowship; and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church.

The total program of United Methodist Women is mission. This includes individual growth, spiritual enrichment, education for mission, social issues awareness, leadership development, schools and workshops, and financial support for mission programs and projects throughout the U.S. and around the world. True to our Wesleyan heritage, mission cannot be solely charity, but involves empowerment and advocacy for social change. By combining the two, we can be witnesses to the love and life of Jesus Christ.

Did You Know?