Love First Miracle Offering

Dear Beloved in Christ:

        For it is God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”
        who has shone in our hearts
        to give the light of the knowledge of
        the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
                                                                             II Corinthians 4:6

May the “light that shines out of darkness” bless you with grace and peace.

The theme for the June 6 -10, 2010 Annual Conference session is Love in Action: Building Bridges Out of Poverty.  Ministry with the poor is one of the four missional foci affirmed by the 2008 General Conference.  As we gather at Lakeside, we will be celebrating the multiple ways the congregations of the West Ohio Conference are engaged in ministry with those living in poverty.  In a variety of teaching sessions we will learn how we can help sisters and brothers build bridges out of poverty.

In keeping with our theme, we will once again receive a Love First Miracle Offering at the 2010 Annual Conference Session for people who are poor.  I invite each of our nearly 1,200 congregations to begin preparing, even now, to participate in this miraculous expression of our love in action.  The needs are overwhelming, but God’s grace is sufficient.  Our state’s economy continues to languish, but God’s economy overflows with abundant life.  Alone our impact is minimal, but together we can be used by God to accomplish a miracle.

Our Love First Miracle Offering goal is $350,000 and 10,000 pounds of potatoes.  The cash offering will be used to support impoverished children being treated at Grace Children’s Hospital in Haiti and at our own United Methodist Children’s Home in Worthington.  Seventy per cent (70%) of the cash offering will support Grace Children’s Hospital; the other thirty percent (30%) will go to the United Methodist Children’s Home.  Designated gifts will be honored.  The potatoes will be distributed through the Society of St. Andrew to feed hungry people in the West Ohio Conference. 

The devastation in Haiti is catastrophic and apocalyptic in proportion.  The images flashing across our TV and computer screens are horrific.  This was not a natural disaster as much as a poverty disaster.  The children are the most vulnerable and the most damaged.  Grace Children’s Hospital, a United Methodist Advance Special operated by International Child Care, was damaged beyond use.  Most of the facility will need to be rebuilt.  There is an immediate need of up to $400,000 to provide a safe 60-bed patient ward.  Our goal is to assist in the rebuilding of the hospital and to provide healing for Haiti’s children by raising at least $250,000 for Grace Children’s Hospital.  For additional information regarding International Child Care and Grace Children’s Hospital, contact Rachel Mills at 800.722.4453 or visit their website at www.internationalchildcare.org.

The United Methodist Children’s Home in Worthington provides healing of minds, souls and hearts for children who have been sexually, physically and emotionally abused.  Most of the children are the victims of impoverished homes.  The United Methodist Children’s Home has been fulfilling its essential mission since 1911.  Our goal is to launch their next century of ministry by honoring their first 100 years with a Miracle Offering gift of $100,000 – $1,000 for each year.  For additional information regarding UMCH contact Rev. Steve Putka at 614.885.5020 extension 536 or visit their website at www.UMCHohio.org.

Ten thousand (10,000) pounds of potatoes will provide 30,000 servings to West Ohio’s hungry families.  I invite every congregation in the West Ohio Conference to bring at least ten (10) pounds of potatoes to Hoover Auditorium during our Love First Miracle Offering.  Imagine over five tons of potatoes available to feed those who often agonize over where they will receive their next meal.  For more information regarding the Society of St. Andrew, contact Tater (George Jensen) at tatergeo@woh.rr.com or the Society of St. Andrew website at www.endhunger.org.

The Love First Miracle Offering will be received during our worship on Tuesday morning, June 8 and again during our Celebration of Life and Ministry Service on Wednesday afternoon on June 9.

Solidarity with the poor is borne of our own spiritual hunger.  The vitality of our mission is directly related to our utter dependence on God.  Until we surrender all and become as little children – as those who are poor and vulnerable – our ministry will lack Spirit-power.

Thus, I am calling the clergy and laity of the West Ohio Conference to a season of prayer and fasting during the 40 days of Lent.  Pray for God to give us a “heart for the lost” (Luke 15:1-7).  Pray that God’s “house may be filled” (Luke 14:15-24).  Pray for a pure heart, a humble heart, a heart of love, a heart of faith.  Pray for God’s lovely, yet tortured children and all the people of Haiti.  I invite you to join me in fasting on each Friday during Lent and offer the cost of your meals to the poor.  Enter into the kind of fast the Lord desires:

    This is the kind of fast day I’m after:
          to break the chains of injustice,
          get rid of exploitation in the workplace,
          free the oppressed, cancel debts.
    What I am interested in seeing you do is:
          sharing your food with the hungry,
          inviting the homeless poor into your homes,
          putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad,
          being available to your own families.
    Do this and the lights will turn on,
          and your lives will turn around at once.
    Your righteousness will pave the way.
          The God of glory will secure your passage.
    Then when you pray, God will answer.
          You’ll call out for help and I’ll say, “Here I am.”
                                         Isaiah 58:6-9, The Message

I believe in the miraculous power that is released when we are fully available to God.  I agree with John Wesley that love always was and always will be the greatest miraculous experience and expression that one can possess.  I am convinced that if we prostrate ourselves before God in prayer and fasting, God’s miracle-working Spirit-power will be poured out upon God’s people.

I thank God for your faithful leadership, bold witness and extravagant stewardship, especially in these days when so many of God’s children, in Haiti and at home, are in need of help and hope.  May the light of the world continue to shine in your hearts and work through you to be a blessing to all of God’s beloved people.

Yours in Christ’s love,

Bishop Bruce Ough