Imagine if the word CHURCH were a verb and not a noun... People would act, doors would open, lives would change, and the world would be as God planned it, not as humans have messed it up.

For 2011 our missions team has decided to address the issues that CAUSE the problems!

We will focus on 3 global issues as well as local

Global Issues:

1. Clean Water
2. Ending Malaria in Africa and other parts of the world
3. Micro-finance

Did you know that every 15 seconds a child DIES from a water-borne disease? For children under 5 years of age, water borne diseases are the NUMBER 1 cause of death. Less than 1% of the world's fresh water is readily available for human use. We will be partnering with the organization Clean Water for the World and others like it to provide simple and functional pumps and purification systems to make fresh water more accessible.

Every 45 seconds a child dies from malaria. That means that in less than 12 hours, EVERY CHILD AND YOUTH in our church would be gone. Unbelievable huh?? As little as $10 can cover the cost of mosquito netting and stop a child from being bitten in the night.

Finally, Micro-finance... Micro loans are small (under $500) loans that are given to folks developing nations to allow them to become self-sufficient and begin to break the cycle of poverty. most of the loans are granted to women so that they can support not only themselves, but their families as well. This allows nutrition, a chance for education, and that in turn leads to a more effective next generation. We are forming a micro-loan club here at VUMC and for just a small contribution, you too can change a family's lives forever.

Local Missions:

We will continue to support the local shelters, Generous Hands, South Count and other needs as they arise.

Have you planned what you and your family will be doing over Spring Break this year? If not, how about helping someone in need? This year VUMC is offering a number of opportunities for an alternative spring break. You can help serve meals at the Gospel Mission, go to Elkhart, IN to the Church World Service headquarters, work at Ministry with Community, South County Services, Habitat for Humanity, Community House in Grand Rapids and many other organizations in and around the South County Area. If you are interested in going a bit further from home, a possible trip would be to the Midwest Distribution Center in Chatam, IL. This is an UMCOR depot that serves the Midwest. Many of our Emergency kits are sent there. Please let Missions know ASAP if that trip sounds like something you want to do.

UMC Ministry Shares

Jesus said, "You will be my witness in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria and the ends of the earth." We choose to live out this by contributing about 12% of our church budget to the larger mission of the United Methodist Church throughout the world. The missions we support through ministry shares include:

• World Service
• Ministerial Education
• Black Colleges
• Interdenominational Cooperation
• Africa University
• General Administration
• Kalamazoo District missions and administration
• West Michigan Conference missions and administration

To learn more about these funds, please pick up a "Who We Are" booklet from the Welcome Center or go the the United Methodist Web site at www.umcgiving.org