Please download the MONTHLY MISSION STORY for your church bulletin/newsletter:
May 2008: pdf or text only or espanol
June 2008: text only

To download the WEEKLY PRAYER for Sunday worship, click here: China

Are you coming to Missionworks/MMI in Cleveland October 2-5, 2008? Missionworks/MMI

China earthquake response: How can I help?

Indian Region Travels to Congo to Sign Partnership Agreement
Nine Hoosier Disciples are traveling in the Congo May 18-28.  The delegation is composed of:  Richard Spleth, Diane Spleth, Susan Deverall, Cheryl Cloar, Bob Shaw, Susan McNeely, Sharon Watkins, Rick Lowery, and Sandra Gourdet.  The Christian Church in Indiana begins a partnership with the Mbandaka District of the Disciples of Christ Community in the Congo this month.  The partnership, expected to stretch over the next decade, will be formally inaugurated with the signing of a partnership agreement on May 25 in the Congo.  The partnership comes at the invitation and encouragement of Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ, and Rev. Bonanga Eliki, President and Legal Representative for the Community of Disciples of Christ in the Congo, who visited Indiana last October.  Anticipated dimensions of the partnership include exchange of information and resources, prayer, and mutual visits. To read more, click here: http://www.indianadisciples.org/pdf/MbdkaIndyPartnershipEnglish.pdf

Update from Amity Foundation on China Earthquake Response
Global Ministries partner, the Amity Foundation, an independent Chinese voluntary organization, was created in 1985 on the initiative of Chinese Christians to promote education, social services, health, and rural development from China's coastal provinces in the east to the minority areas of the west. To read Amity's latest update, click here: Amity Report

On Israel's 60th Anniversary, UCC leaders urge peacemaking as the "highest priority"
John Thomas, General Minister and President of the UCC and Cally Rogers-Witte, Co-Executive of Global Ministries, write: "As Israel observes its 60th anniversary, it is appropriate to acknowledge the joy of Jews around the world even amid the enduring security concerns Israelis experience.  It is also appropriate to honor the determination of Palestinians to endure and to achieve statehood and security beyond the anguish of 40 years of Occupation.   But a true occasion for celebration will only come when Israelis and Palestinians both enjoy rights of security, sovereignty, and self-determination without interference, imposition, or fear.  More than anything else, today's anniversary should be an urgent call to peacemaking, and a challenge to leaders in the region and their partners around the world to make peace with justice for Israelis and Palestinians alike their highest priority." To read the complete letter, click here: 60th Anniversary

Cry tears for Burma
Dr. Anna May Say pa, a well known church leader and feminist theologian in Asia, writes: "Once, this was Thabyekyaing village, a quiet coastal village in Labutta township, Ayeyawaddy Division. Once, the laughter of children filled the air as they played football or toke-si-do in the fields and yards. Once, men went out on fishing boats or worked in the fields. Women planted rice, fetched water and firewood and kitchen fires burnt brightly. Once, on Sunday mornings, the church bell would ring and people would gather to sing, praise and worship god and listen to the pastor, Rev. Maung Bay's or his son, Pastor Klo Htoo's sermons… Now, there is an eerie silence over what once was Thabye Gyaung. The sound of laughter, song and raucous shouting is stilled. The trees, the fields, the houses, school, church, monastery, clinic are no more. Now, what remains is death and destruction, bloated bodies, shattered lives. To read the complete reflection, click here: Myanmar

May 2008 Newsletter of the Friends of Lady Doak College
The Gift of Education Newsletter is designed especially for the many friends all over the US and Canada, providing you with news of what is happening on the campus of Lady Doak College, Madurai, India. To read the May 2008 Newsletter, click here: Lady Doak College

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

Connect with Global Ministries Staff at Regional Assemblies and Annual Meetings:
Disciples New Church Pastors Revival, Bethany, WV: May 20-22 – Bob Shebeck bshebeck@dom.disciples.org and David Vargas
Illinois Conference Annual meeting, Bloomington, IL: June 5-7 – Cally Rogers-Witte, Mary Kuenning Gross, Sandra Gourdet, Felix Ortiz and Susan Sanders sanderss@ucc.org
Virginia Regional Assembly, Lynchburg, VA June 6-8 – Bob Shebeck bshebeck@dom.disciples.org
South Dakota Conference Annual Meeting,  Yankton, SD: June 13-15 – Cally Rogers-Witte rogerc@ucc.org and Florence Coppola coppolaf@ucc.org
Pennsylvania Regional Assembly, California, PA June 20-22 – Bob Shebeck bshebeck@dom.disciples.org
Fauntleroy UCC, Seattle, WA: June 20-21 - Cally Rogers-Witte rogerc@ucc.org

Find a Missionary Visit in your State:
Penn SE: April 6 to May 31, 2008, Dale and Bethsaba Nafziger (National Churches Fellowship of Nepal) Contact: Geneva Butz butz@psec.org
IA: May 1 to June 30, 2008, Linda and Bruce Hanson (The Christian Development Commission (CCD) and The Theological Community of Honduras (CTEH) Contact: Selva Lehman selvarl@mchsi.com
Southern CA: May 1 to June 30, 2008, Jeffrey Mensendiek (Council on Cooperative Mission, assigned to the Emmaus Center in Sendai, Japan) Contact: Virginia Arroyo arroyo@scncucc.org
WV: May 1-31, 2008, Krista Johnson (Sabeel in Jerusalem) Contact: David Chafin dchafin@wvdisciples.org
WA: May 10 to June 30, 2008, Ana and Tod Gobledale (Churches of Christ Theological College in Melbourne, Australia) Contact: Marvin Eckfeldt marveck@comcast.net
TN: June 8-30 and July 13-20, 2008, Krista Johnson (Sabeel in Jerusalem) Contact: Glen Stewart glenjstewart@bellsouth.net
IN: July 6-10, July 14-22 and July 28 – August 10, 2008, Alex Morse (Caminantes in the Dominican Republic) Contact: Cheryl Cloar: cheryl@ccindiana.org
Penn Central: August 24 to October 10, 2008, Steve and Lisa Smith (EKU in Germany) Contact: mcoons-torn@pccucc.org
CT: September 1, 2008 to April 30, 2009, Tim Rose (Reformed Church of France) Contact: Cecile Gilson cecileg@ctucc.org
NC: May 1 to June 30, 2009, Tim Rose (Reformed Church of France) Contact: Janelle Bunn janellebunn@soc-ucc.org