Local Churches Support Worldwide Missionary Projects

Often churches are the only source of hope in struggling countries. Fortunately "local" churches have stepped up-to-the-plate and continue reaching out to people all around the globe through the support of missionary projects.

Pastor Jeff Long, Centenary United Methodist Church, Cape Girardeau says Centenary supports two missionaries in the Czech republic, Jimmie and Hilda Bennett. The Bennets run a Christian English-speaking school in Pardubice, Czech Republic. Centenary gives them a sizeable check every month. "The Czech republic is the most heavily-concentrated nation of self-professed atheists in Europe", says Long. Centenary and some other United Methodist Churches support churches in Mozambique as well

The women's Missionary Union, A.K.A. WMU at the First Baptist Church Jackson is active in international projects. The group gives annually to the Lotttie Moon Christmas offering supporting international missionaries, and also to the Southern Baptist World Hunger Fund. Lisa Crites, WMU Director, says 100% of those donations go toward hunger relief. Pure Water, Pure Love, is another mission project the women support. It assists missionaries by providing water filters in their homes and for their travels.

The women have made "True Love Waits Banners" (commitment to live a life of purity until marriage) and sent them to the country of Lesotho to help stop the AIDS Epidemic. In addition, they support World Crafts, a collection of handmade crafts from around the world. The income from the crafts provides materially, improves self-esteem and gives hope to the artisans living in poverty.

St. Andrew Lutheran Church raised $16,000 a few years ago for the Mission India organization. The money was used to provide literacy training in remote parts of India. Pastor Paul Short said "In 2007, our members donated towards the construction of 'Fishing Village' in Haiti. Four large boats with outboard motors, commercial fishing gear, GPS equipment, an outdoor storage building and a solar floor light were purchased which helped villagers go into deeper waters and catch larger fish."

In 2008 the church raised money to construct 18 homes in the same village to replace the usual makeshift shacks. The homes will be built of a concrete slab, walls and tin roof.

Catholic Churches in the Springfield-Cape Girardeau Diocese support numerous "worldwide" causes through special collections. Missionaries often speak concerning the charities. Catholic Relief Services is one that distributes to various organizations that share in the Church's mission of promoting the sacredness of human life and the dignity of the human person. Medicine, relocation of displaced people, legal counsel and food are just a few services that institution provides.

Area Catholic Churches also help sustain the Church in Latin America and in Central and Eastern Europe. In 2007 the latter collection funded 340 projects in countries such as Serbia, Georgia, Albania, Poland, and Macedonia. Some of those projects were Church construction, ministry training, religious newspapers and children's education programs. Catholic Churches also adopt individual missionary projects such as sending clothing and school supplies to various needy countries.

Food for the Poor is the number one international relief and development charity in the United States. St. Mary's Cathedral, Cape Girardeau is among those contributing annually to help. It feeds two million poor every day and provides housing, health care and other necessities in the Caribbean and Latin American.

What would the World do without the assistance of our churches? They continue to spread optimism and provide help everywhere.