You can help ‘Advance’ God’s mission in 2008

Eula had the looks of a street-smart kid — a cautious toughness and defiance which had served her well as a 13-year-old child who had been homeless for a number of years. Her dark brown eyes set deep into her face avoided direct contact with me or with anyone else. She was a small girl, not even as tall as I am. Her tight jeans and tennis shoes were well-worn. She and a dozen or so kids were dancing; they were dancing to loud hip-hop music — loud Christian hip-hop music. Their every movement choreographed; each step memorized; the quick moves, high jumps and fast turns one fluid motion.

Here in the slums of Brazil, Eula and these young teens were a part of a Methodist Ministry VIVART* (Vida atraves do Arte) “Life Through Arts.” She wore a T-shirt with the United Methodist cross and flame logo, as did the others, and her face was intense as she danced to the hip-hop Christian music whose words told the story of Jesus’ life and death and new life. VIVART is but one of the many Advance Specials that reaches out to at-risk kids, to help find ways to connect the children of the street with the love of Jesus Christ. Eula comes to the Methodist church several nights a week to dance. There she finds a safe place, loving friendship and a chance to find meaning in her life.

More than 17,000 churches and 10,000 individuals across the United States give to a variety of Advance Specials annually. Through The Advance, more than 900 United Methodist missionaries are supported along with more than 1,000 projects ministering to a diversity of needs. In 2007 the Virginia Conference gave more through The Advance than any other conference in the Southeastern Jurisdiction . . . almost $2 million! That is something we can be proud of. Sixty-nine percent of churches in the Virginia Conference gave through The Advance in 2007. I am hopeful that even more will choose to be a part of God’s mission in 2008 by giving to an Advance Special of their choice.

Throughout 2008, celebrations of the 60th anniversary of The Advance will take place at General, Annual and Jurisdictional conferences. You might consider having an Advance Anniversary Celebration at your local church. Please visit the Web at www.advancinghope.org to learn more about the projects and missionaries supported through The Advance, gather tools to share the stories of work, or donate to The Advance project or missionary of your choice. Remember, when you give to an Advance Special, 100 percent of your contribution goes to the Advance ministry you choose! 

                        Peace,

                        Denise Honeycutt (Conference Director of Mission & Global Outreach) 

*VIVART hip-hop ministry in Brazil will be one of this year’s Virginia Annual Conference Offering recipients.