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MCC’s 2011 Easter
Offerings for Global Ministries!
Discover How Your Easter Gifts Support MCC’s Anchor Ministry In Asia
A Message from
The Rev. Nancy L. Wilson
Office of the Moderator
Metropolitan Community Churches
March 24, 2011
Dear MCC Friend:
I am amazed and thankful that so many MCC congregations have already become 2011 Pacesetters — churches that are “setting the pace” for MCC’s international work by receiving an Easter Offering for Global Ministries.
We’re entering the second week of this annual denominational event and already 47 churches have written to say they’ll participate by receiving a special Easter offering for this purpose. (By the way, this is the strongest response ever during the first week of this annual campaign!)
There are so many things about MCCers that I just love, but this is near the top of my list:
__________________________________________________
When faced with a need and
a God-given opportunity, MCC folks
always rise to the occasion with generosity!
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If your church has not yet responded, I invite you to do so today by writing to me and letting me know of your plans. And when you write, we’ll add the name of your church and your pastor to the list of 2011’s MCC Pacesetter Churches.
As I shared with you last week, this year’s MCC Easter Offerings for Global Ministries will support three life-affirming, life-changing ministries:
— MCC’s growing ministry in Asia, especially across the Philippines and in
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| MCC Quezon City Affiliation |
Kuala Lumpur;
— MCC’s new Global Justice Institute, including creation of a safe house in Uganda for Christians and LGBT activists who face horrific persecution;
— MCC’s ministry into Russia, including re-publishing the first booklet in the Russian language dealing with homosexuality and the Bible, theology and human rights issues as well as sponsorship of Russia’s first-ever LGBT Christian Conference.
Over the next three weeks, I’ll be sharing details with you about each of these important projects.
Today, I want to let you know how your church’s Easter Offerings for Global Ministries will touch lives in Asia.
This past year, MCC held our first-ever REVM clergy event in the Philippines. Through MCC’s Easter Offerings for Global Ministries, we have a wonderful opportunity to build on the success of that event and to support our sisters and brothers in the Philippines.
The leadership of MCC’s Asia Pacific Initiative (API) has selected four strategic ministry opportunities — and your generosity this Easter can help turn these opportunities into realities. Here’s how your Easter gifts will help support MCC’s growing ministry in Asia:
— 1. These funds will help underwrite API’s 2011 “October Philippine Initiative.” Rev. Elder Ken Martin will be on-site with our churches, members, and leaders in the Philippines for the entire month of October. Rev. Stedney Philips, Barbara Crabtree, Rev. Ed Paul and Rev. Karl Hand will also be ministering on-site for part of the month.
API members will offer leadership development events throughout the month of October, including programs on “Local Church Infrastructure and Board Development” and “Developing a Strategy for the Future.” A REVM Follow-up will take place, MAP evaluations will be offered, and courses will be taught in “MCC Polity” and “Sexuality Studies.” Interspersed with these learning opportunities will be planning sessions for 2012’s conference.
— 2. Your Easter Offerings for Global Ministries will become part of the vital start-up funds for MCC’s “All-Asia Christian Conference” to take place in 2012.
— 3. A portion of this year’s Easter funds will help support the pastor’s stipend and building subsidy for MCC Quezon City during 2011.
— 4. Finally, if we exceed our target of raising $30,000 USD through MCC’s Easter Offerings for Global Ministries, the API has set an “over and above” goal of using some of these monies for Elder Martin to conduct a ministry trip from Manila to Kuala Lumpur during October.
MCC churches and ministries are exploding across the Philippines! Did you know that, to date, all funding for these efforts has been raised entirely by donors? Now our local churches have the opportunity to support MCC’s anchor efforts in Asia through this year’s Easter Offerings campaign.
If your congregation has not yet responded, here’s my invitation to your church:
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I’m inviting your church to participate in this wonderful
MCC tradition that touches so many lives by agreeing to receive
a designated offering for MCC’s global ministries on Easter Sunday.
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When your church notifies me that you will participate in the 2011 Easter Offerings for Global Ministries, we’ll add your church, along with the name of your pastor, to this year’s list of MCC Pacesetter Churches — churches that are “setting the pace” for MCC’s vital international ministries.
Here’s how your church can sign-up… to participate in the 2011 Easter Offerings for Global Ministries and be listed as a 2011 Pacesetter Church.
1. Write to me and let me know that your church will receive a special, designated 2011 Easter offering.
2. When you write to me, be sure to include the following information: church name, city, province or state, country, pastor’s name, and the date your church will receive its Easter offering.
3. Begin now to share this news with your congregation – and especially remember MCC’s international ministries in prayer during worship services leading up to Easter Sunday.
4. Look for more news and details — along with resources, photos, promotional materials, congregational prayers and bulletin inserts — coming very soon!
Let me share this in closing:
MCC’s 2011 Easter Offerings for Global Ministries is an opportunity for your congregation to experience the “Fellowship” in our “Universal Fellowship.” Together, as we join our hands with other MCC churches around the globe to take a special Easter offering, two miracles will take place:
The first miracle… is that God will use these combined gifts to launch new ministries, strengthen our churches and touch the lives of MCCers around the globe. Together, we can accomplish what none of us could do alone.
The second miracle… is that as we join hands with other MCC congregations in this shared ministry and shared vision, our fellowship with one another will grow deeper and stronger, and that is beautiful.
I hope you’ll write me and let me know that your church will be part of the miracles that take place through MCC’s Easter Offerings for Global Ministries!
May I look for your response this week?
Grace and peace,
+ Nancy
Rev. Nancy L. Wilson
Moderator
Metropolitan Community Churches
P.S. Remember, when you write to me and let me know of your church’s participation in MCC’s denominational Easter Offering, we’ll promptly add you to the list of 2011 Pacesetter Churches that are leading the way in support of MCC’s global ministries.
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| Members of MCC Philippines receiving their first computer, a gift from MCC’s Asian Pacific Initiative |
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