Please download the MONTHLY MISSION STORY for your church bulletin or newsletter:   
            July 2009: text only or pdf or español
            August 2009: text only

To download the WEEKLY PRAYER for Sunday Worship, click here: South Africa

To find a Global Ministries Project to support, click here: Special Giving Opportunities

UCCP Church Worker Missing in the Philippines
A church worker in the Philippines is missing after being arrested by police and turned over to the military. Dennis Rodinas, a lay worker of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, was subjected to "custodial debriefing" at a military camp in Misamis Occidental and has not been heard from. His family is concerned that he may end up the latest victim of human-rights atrocities in the Philippines. To read the complete story, click here: http://globalministries.org/news/eap/philippines-church-worker-missing.html

US Administration Responds to Church Leaders Letter on Peace in the Middle East
On June 4, a broad and diverse group of national American Christian leaders sent a letter to President Obama on the heels of his historic speech in Cairo. In response to that letter, Jeffrey Feltman, Acting Assistant Secretary of  State for Near East Affairs, wrote a letter dated June 24th. The State Department letter begins with an expression of appreciation for the Christian community's "work to advance our collective goal of realizing a comprehensive Middle East peace."  It lays out the obligations that the Administration has placed on all parties, including Israel, the Palestinians and the Arab states and includes key paragraphs on the Gaza situation and Palestinian Christians. To read both letters, click here:http://globalministries.org/news/mee/us-adminstration-responds-to.html

Rev. Bonanga Shares Photos of the Progress at Bolenge Hospital in the DRC
In an e-mail to Sandra Gourdet, Rev. Bonanga writes: "Today I would like to report on the construction progress of the pediatric wing of our Bolenge Hospital.  Under the surveillance of the architect surrounded by a committee appointed by me, the CDCC is happy to confirm that the work done up to this point is satisfactory to everyone…" To read the complete report and to view the photos, click here: http://globalministries.org/news/africa/progress-on-the-new-pediatric.html

27th General Synod of the UCC Calls for Comprehensive HIV Prevention
The 27th General Synod of the United Church of Christ called the whole denomination to significant engagement in HIV prevention when it overwhelmingly approved the resolution, "Calling for Comprehensive HIV Prevention in Church and Community" at their meetings last week in Grand Rapids, Michigan. To read the press release and the resolution, click here: http://globalministries.org/news/us/ucan-general-synod.html

Conference of European Churches Meets in Lyon, France
The 13th Assembly of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) convened on Wednesday 15 July in Lyon, France. The meeting is made up of delegates and other representatives of some 120 European churches and 40 related organizations. The assembly, lasting until Monday 20 July, celebrates the 50th anniversary of CEC and will determine priorities for CEC and its member churches during the coming six years. To find links to the Assembly website and messages given during gathering, click here:  http://globalministries.org/news/mee/european-churches-assembly.html

Countdown to General Assembly in Indianapolis!
One week and counting! Here are some things you won't want to miss:

• GM International Dinner: Wednesday July 29 @ 5pm – Westin Hotel. A few tickets remain. $25 a piece.  Contact Ginny Haag at ghaag@dom.disciples.org or 317-713-2555 to buy your ticket.
• Congo Luncheon with Rev. Bonanga, President of the Disciples in DRC: Thursday, July 30 @ 12:15 to 1:30pm – Westin Hotel. Tickets are still available at $15 per person. Contact Pat Sanborn at psanborn@dom.disciples.org or 317-713-2552 to register.
• Just Neighbors Learning Track: Friday July 31 and Saturday August 1 from 2 to 5:15pm –Westin Hotel. Dialogue with all of the GM International Partners and Missionaries about wounds and healing in our world. For more info contact Bob Shebeck bshebeck@dom.disciples.org or 317-713-2571
• GM in Plenary Friday Morning, July 31: Rev. Bonanga will preach. David Vargas will share his DOM/GM report. The Assembly will vote on the Be a Global Mission Church resolution. The Missionaries will be Commissioned and the International Partners will be introduced…
• GM Exhibit: Please plan to stop by the GM exhibit where several educational events for the healing of the nations are planned under the Baobab Tree!

If you would like to receive directly to your inbox these weekly Global Ministries updates, please send your name, e-mail address, physical address, phone number, and home church to: bshebeck@dom.disciples.org

Upcoming Ministries and Mission Interpreters (MMI) Training Events:

• Cleveland, Ohio: October 9-11, 2009 beginning with dinner on Friday and going through Sunday at noon. Radisson Gateway, Cleveland, OH. To register for the event go to: http://globalministries.org/calendar/mmi-october-2009.html
• Southern California: Saturday, October 31, 2009 sponsored by the Pacific Southwest Region (DOC) and the Southern California-Nevada Conference (UCC) – For more info, contact Larry Hixon larryhixon@yahoo.com or got to: http://globalministries.org/calendar/mmi-training-in-claremont.html
• Greensboro, North Carolina: Monday June 21 to Wednesday June 23, 2010 before the Disciples Women's Quadrennial Assembly. For details, visit: http://www.quadrennial.org/Pre_QA_Events.html

Find a Missionary Visit in your State:
TX: July 19-24 and 26-30, 2009, Kevin Howe (CCD in Honduras) Contact: JoAnn Hoel at (254) 694-7981
TN: July 28-29, 2009, Martha Mensendiek (Japan) Contact: Ted Braun: tedbraun@citlink.net
HI: August 1-31, 2009, Martha Mensendiek (Japan) Contact: Charles Buck cbuck@hcucc.org
IA: September 1 – October 11 and October 17-31, 2009, John Campbell-Nelson (Indonesia) Contact: Hal and Donna Rusk h.rusk@mchsi.com