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Harvest TableOur Mission is to provide to anyone in the community a no cost meal, love and fellowship, with children’s activities, healthy living information, diapers, and groceries.
Click the Harvest Table logo to visit the new Harvest Table website! |
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UMCORUMCOR (United Methodist Committee On Relief) is the United Methodist Church disaster relief agency that responds around the globe when a natural or man-made disaster occurs. UMCOR is recognized as one of the best and most accountable relief agencies and uses your funds wisely and efficiently - stretching your dollars as far as they will go! Through UMCOR we as United Methodists are the first in and the last out of a disaster as we do the healing, saving work of Christ.
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Solar Oven Partners
Haiti Solar Oven Partners (HSOP) works to empower Haitian families with both the knowledge and the tools to alleviate hunger and human suffering through clean affordable solar cooking. Now 15 years old, our mission's success hinges on the premise of education, first: helping Haitians understand the relationship between environmental devastation and hunger; and training, second: to maximize free solar energy for the basic human needs of safe water and healthy food. Our partnership with the people of Haiti strives to provide a long-term solution to poverty and hunger by helping Haitian families help themselves.
The volunteers who make up HSOP come together out of their love and concern for the people of Haiti with the goal of replacing the centuries-old practice of cooking with wood and charcoal to using free, clean solar energy whenever possible. Traditional Haitian families can spend as much as 85% of their income on charcoal and food alone. Each time a solar oven is used for cooking, baking, or water pasteurization, it saves money … thus providing more opportunities for healthier nutrition and children’s education…. and it directly contributes to the resolution of the chronic problems of deforestation, water-borne disease, and other health problems. Thus a solar oven is a catalyst for change by attacking the root causes of human suffering, instead of just scratching away at the symptoms that rise to the surface.
Since January of 2000, more than 9500 solar ovens have been distributed to families across Haiti. One solar oven meal can feed a family or extended family of 8-12 individuals. To receive their solar oven kit, we ask for a small oven/training fee of US $15 and a commitment to attend a 2-day seminar to build ownership and investment on the part of each attendant. The seminars, taught in their native Créole by our Haitian Director Montas Joseph and his wife Raymonde, address: the environmental hazards of cutting trees for the production of charcoal; the socio-economic impacts of this practice; the mechanics of solar oven technology; and then hands-on training in the assembly, use and cooking of various meals for their families. The oven kits are a complete package. Each kit includes: the oven, 3 roasters (made in Haiti), a bread pan, a WAPI (water/milk pasteurization instrument), oven thermometer, cookbook and even measuring cups and spoons!
As Christians, we are compelled to respond to the social injustice borne of the lopsided distribution of earthly resources, inadequate economic and environmental stewardship, and the growing numbers of hungry impoverished people. Following our UMVIM credo of “Christian Love In Action”, this ministry has provided life-changing, international service opportunities for more than 300 volunteer trip experiences and continues to schedule 2 or 3 annual mission encounters for up to 10 volunteers each work trip.
For more information, see our website at www.haitisolarovens.org.
The volunteers who make up HSOP come together out of their love and concern for the people of Haiti with the goal of replacing the centuries-old practice of cooking with wood and charcoal to using free, clean solar energy whenever possible. Traditional Haitian families can spend as much as 85% of their income on charcoal and food alone. Each time a solar oven is used for cooking, baking, or water pasteurization, it saves money … thus providing more opportunities for healthier nutrition and children’s education…. and it directly contributes to the resolution of the chronic problems of deforestation, water-borne disease, and other health problems. Thus a solar oven is a catalyst for change by attacking the root causes of human suffering, instead of just scratching away at the symptoms that rise to the surface.
Since January of 2000, more than 9500 solar ovens have been distributed to families across Haiti. One solar oven meal can feed a family or extended family of 8-12 individuals. To receive their solar oven kit, we ask for a small oven/training fee of US $15 and a commitment to attend a 2-day seminar to build ownership and investment on the part of each attendant. The seminars, taught in their native Créole by our Haitian Director Montas Joseph and his wife Raymonde, address: the environmental hazards of cutting trees for the production of charcoal; the socio-economic impacts of this practice; the mechanics of solar oven technology; and then hands-on training in the assembly, use and cooking of various meals for their families. The oven kits are a complete package. Each kit includes: the oven, 3 roasters (made in Haiti), a bread pan, a WAPI (water/milk pasteurization instrument), oven thermometer, cookbook and even measuring cups and spoons!
As Christians, we are compelled to respond to the social injustice borne of the lopsided distribution of earthly resources, inadequate economic and environmental stewardship, and the growing numbers of hungry impoverished people. Following our UMVIM credo of “Christian Love In Action”, this ministry has provided life-changing, international service opportunities for more than 300 volunteer trip experiences and continues to schedule 2 or 3 annual mission encounters for up to 10 volunteers each work trip.
For more information, see our website at www.haitisolarovens.org.
Native American Ministries of the Dakotas Conference
There are now three Native American sites receiving UMVIM (United Methodist Volunteers in Mission) teams in the Dakotas.
1. The oldest - Tree of Life in Mission, SD, Director, Linda Garriot, [email protected], website: http://treeofliferelief.org/
2. Next - Children of the Harvest with the Spirit Lake Nation in Fort Totten, ND, Mike and Libby Flowers, directors, [email protected] and now
3. Crow Creek, Fort Thompson area under tribal leadership, Contact person, Pat Croley, [email protected]
All three can be found on the USA Project List for UMVIM teams.
A fourth Native American Project in our area is the Flandreau Indian Chaplaincy. Brookings First UMC has supported this ministry in the past.
The chaplain relates :
1. as a Christian friend to students and staff,
2. sharing the Gospel's good news with students,
3. counseling and helping student in dealing with critical needs on and off campus and
4. is a liaison between the school and local community.
1. The oldest - Tree of Life in Mission, SD, Director, Linda Garriot, [email protected], website: http://treeofliferelief.org/
2. Next - Children of the Harvest with the Spirit Lake Nation in Fort Totten, ND, Mike and Libby Flowers, directors, [email protected] and now
3. Crow Creek, Fort Thompson area under tribal leadership, Contact person, Pat Croley, [email protected]
All three can be found on the USA Project List for UMVIM teams.
A fourth Native American Project in our area is the Flandreau Indian Chaplaincy. Brookings First UMC has supported this ministry in the past.
The chaplain relates :
1. as a Christian friend to students and staff,
2. sharing the Gospel's good news with students,
3. counseling and helping student in dealing with critical needs on and off campus and
4. is a liaison between the school and local community.
Covenant Relationships
What is a Covenant Relationship?
Churches partner with a missionary when they enter into a Covenant Relationship. This partnership is much more than a financial commitment. It is a dynamic relationship where the church and missionary pray for one another and communicate regularly. By deepening its own awareness of the struggles and triumphs of the missionary, the congregation participates in a work that is truly connectional.
Mission Personnel (GBGM) provides for the regular itineration of all missionaries who have significant support from churches. During itineration once every three years, the congregation has the opportunity to meet the missionary face-to-face by hosting them at their church.
There are over 300 Global Ministries missionaries that are supported through Covenant Relationships serving in over 60 countries. There is a great need for more supporting churches to be involved in the Covenant Relationship program. If more churches partner with missionaries, Global Ministries will be able to send more missionaries out into the world to make disciples of Jesus Christ!
To read more about a Covenant Relationship visit the Advance-Covenant Relationship site on the GBGM website:
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/advance/missionaries/covenant/?i=18356
Who does BFUMC have a Covenant Relationship with?
Ardelle and Gordon Graner, BOLIVIA
Beverly and Emmanual Barte, LAOS
Churches partner with a missionary when they enter into a Covenant Relationship. This partnership is much more than a financial commitment. It is a dynamic relationship where the church and missionary pray for one another and communicate regularly. By deepening its own awareness of the struggles and triumphs of the missionary, the congregation participates in a work that is truly connectional.
Mission Personnel (GBGM) provides for the regular itineration of all missionaries who have significant support from churches. During itineration once every three years, the congregation has the opportunity to meet the missionary face-to-face by hosting them at their church.
There are over 300 Global Ministries missionaries that are supported through Covenant Relationships serving in over 60 countries. There is a great need for more supporting churches to be involved in the Covenant Relationship program. If more churches partner with missionaries, Global Ministries will be able to send more missionaries out into the world to make disciples of Jesus Christ!
To read more about a Covenant Relationship visit the Advance-Covenant Relationship site on the GBGM website:
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/advance/missionaries/covenant/?i=18356
Who does BFUMC have a Covenant Relationship with?
Ardelle and Gordon Graner, BOLIVIA
Beverly and Emmanual Barte, LAOS