United States and Canada

Global mission can mean bringing a global perspective to your community in the U.S. and Canada, in addition to going out into the world. Here are some ways you can get involved in mission in the U.S. and Canada.

Mission Visits and Relationships

The Mission Relationship Program matches Regions, Conferences, and congregations with mission co-workers worldwide. Developing a relationship with a mission co-worker can help churches personalize global mission, focus on new ways of being in mission, develop international understanding, and provide a caring church community for a mission co-worker.

One Great Hour of Sharing (UCC)

One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS), as part of Our Churches Wider Mission, is the special mission offering of the United Church of Christ that carries God’s message of love and hope to people in crisis. The UCC works with international partners to provide sources of clean water, food, education and health care, small business micro-credit, advocacy and resettlement for refugees and displaced persons, and emergency relief and rehabilitation. OGHS also supports domestic and international ministries for disaster preparedness and response.  

Week of Compassion (Disciples)

As the relief, refugee, and development mission fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Week of Compassion works with partners to alleviate suffering throughout the world. Through Week of Compassion, North American Disciples reach out in the name of Christ to provide emergency and long-term assistance to people in the aftermath of natural and human catastrophes, respond with help, hope and hospitality to people who have been uprooted and displaced from their homelands, support self-help programs of development and rehabilitation that empower people and communities, and encourage and support volunteer groups in “hands-on” mission and service opportunities. Disciples through WOC participate with Christians in nine other Protestant denominations in One Great Hour of Sharing, thus multiplying the effectiveness and extent of our witness many times over.

Refugee and Immigration Ministries (UCC)

The United Church of Christ and UCC congregations have played an active role in welcoming resettled refugee families to our cities, neighborhoods, and churches. We’ve set up new homes, stocked kitchens, accompanied parents and their children to doctor’s appointments and enroll in school, and shared the joy that comes from landing that first job in the states. We have been blessed with opportunities to be accompaniers, neighbors, friends. And our communities have been enriched by the many talents, ideas, and contributions of resettled refugees. In addition to welcoming refugee families resettled to the U.S., each day the United Church of Christ is present in the halls of Congress, working to protect the U.S. refugee resettlement program, advocate for the rights of refugees and asylum seekers and work for world peace.

Refugee and Immigration Ministries (Disciples)

Refugee and Immigration Ministries equips Disciples to respond to Jesus’ call to welcome the stranger through refugee resettlement, ministering with immigrants, and advocacy. We provide resources for your congregation, legal consultations, and connections to hands-on mission work.

Disaster Ministries (UCC)

The effects of global warming threaten to only increase the scope, scale, and number of disasters worldwide. UCC Disaster Ministries is a program of the United Church of Christ that responds to natural and human-caused disasters all over the world and is well-positioned to respond in most events. Through our volunteers, congregations, Conferences, and partnerships UCC Disaster Ministries seeks to serve the most vulnerable populations that require spiritual, physical, financial, and psychological support. In times of domestic disaster, UCC Disaster Ministries office provides a platform and facilitation for much of this work while collaborating with and through UCC Conferences and a network of Conference Disaster Coordinators. Internationally, UCC Disaster Ministries maintains direct relationships and partnerships with organizations and faith communities able to appropriately and effectively respond to emergency and long-term needs.

Disciples Volunteering

Disciples Volunteering assists and enhances Disciples serving the community, especially through the servant missions and ministries of congregations. By focusing on supporting local mission interests, developing servant leaders, and sending teams in mission, Disciples Volunteering is promoting a fundamental shift toward service and missions that are more sustainable, flexible, effective, and, ultimately, a better witness to our faith in action. To this end, Disciples Volunteering continues to Call, Connect, Equip, and Send Servants and the Church for Service with the Community. Disciples serving community move from volunteer to servant to neighbor to friend as we Get Dirty for Jesus together.

Volunteer Ministries (UCC)

UCC Volunteer Ministries is part of the national ministries of the United Church of Christ. Mission Trip Groups serving within the United States can connect with host sites here and access preparation and post-service commitment materials. UCC Young Adult Service Communities (YASC) and Summer Communities of Service provide intentional communities for service and leadership development. Partners in Service volunteers serve full-time for a period of 1-12 months in a mission setting within the United States.

United States & Canada News