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| Each Sunday we sing, "praise God from whom all blessings flow" as a way of acknowledging that all that we have is a gift from God, which inspires us to give generously to the work of God's kingdom on earth. To date, Benson Memorial UMC has given hundreds of thousands of dollars towards Outreach Ministries. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. |
| GLOBAL MISSIONS(2009) | |
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Jamaica UPDATE Jamaica, Mon! Most Americans think of Jamaica as an island paradise; a resort destination. To be sure, Jamaica is covered in blue skies, filled with lush tropics, surrounded by beautiful beaches and mesmerizing warm waters, and populated with smiling, friendly people. But there is another side to the island: one of the highest ratios of national debt in the western hemisphere; abject poverty; children who die from malnutrition and hunger; rampant unemployment and all-to-high incidences of random gun violence. It is to this Jamaica that Benson Memorial has been called. For more than 7 years, Benson Memorial has been sending mission teams to Jamaica. We have rebuilt churches and shared the gospel with hundreds of children. The past few years we have listened to God's call amongst the children of the Lethe (pronounced Leeth-ee). We have focused our efforts on helping the church meet their spiritual and physical needs. This year, a small team of people including Chuck Moore, Celeste Whitt, Gayle Jordan, and pastor Ed Priestaf travelled again to the Montego Bay area to visit the children of the Lethe All Age School and the community in which they live. We spent our time in Jamaica talking to school administrators and church leaders, to social workers and struggling families, to orphanages and homeless persons.
Because of the team's willingness to respond to God's call, and because of Benson Memorial's generosity as a congregation, roughly 40 children of Lethe are receiving a meal TODAY. For most of these 40 children, it will be the only meal they eat until tomorrow. Tomorrow, they will eat again because of that same generosity. For most of these children, this meal is the only reason that their parents send them to school. By the grace of God, we have been able to commit to feeding these 40 children breakfast for the rest of the school year. The Jamaican government feeding program money ran out on October 23. Since October 23, attendance at the school has greatly decreased. The breakfast program that the school ran locally last year was not operating due to lack of funds. If a family's children are going hungry, the family often sends the children out to beg or to scavenge some food, or to stay home and conserve their energy. But if there is food at the school, they'll send the children to the place from which their only meal will come. The teachers know that if they can offer this food, they can provide an education, and give the children a chance to grow up and break the vicious cycle of poverty that ensnares many of the parents. The good news is that some of the 80 children who need the food (roughly 40 children) at the school will receive at least something. The bad news is that there are many other children that need food at the school, but there is not yet enough to go around. The other bad news is that the meal that we can provide for them is stretched thin - maybe a bowl of porridge is what will be made to last the entire day. It is the prayer of our church that these needs will be met - perhaps through the continued work of Benson Memorial, perhaps through a spark that is lit in the local Lethe or Montego Bay community, perhaps through a way that we do not yet see. It is our prayer that we as a church would continue to be open to God's call and direction, wherever that might be. If you have been moved by this mission, if your soul feels restless as you read this testimony, our prayers is that you will pay attention to what you are feeling. Please contact Pastor Ed (274-8061) or ed.priestaf@gmail.com to learn how you might be able to change a life and join this part of God's mission to a hungry world. Thank you so much for your support of this team and this ministry. |
| ABOUT THE MINISTRY MISSIONS |
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| WIHN Benson Memorial United Methodist Church supports the activities of Wake Interfaith Hospitality Network as they assist families in temporary disadvantaged situations by providing housing, meals, and transportation if required to enable the families to get back on their feet from unfortunate setbacks such as the loss of their job or housing. Families are screened and admitted into the program by the staff of Wake Interfaith Hospitality Network at their day Center, located on Method Road in Raleigh, NC. Benson Memorial United Methodist Church provides four weeks of housing support each calendar year. We also provide financial support to the operating budget of WIHN to helpcover the cost of staff salaries, annual operating expenses such as electricity and office equipment. We provide housing for up to five families with up to 16 total family members during each of the four assigned weeks during the calendar year. We host WIHN families one week during each quarter. CONTACT: John and Diane Rees(787-5510) or Carla Bernstein(788-8438) |
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The Good Neighbor Ministry This ministry reclaims the spirit of a time when neighbors worked together to survive. Since the ice storm in December 2002 the Good Neighbors Ministry has responded to twenty one requests for help and logged 2344 hours of volunteer’s time. Based on the parable of the Good Samaritan, the ministry provides a way for brothers and sisters at Benson to demonstrate love and compassion to those in need as a result of disaster, accident, or personal misfortune. This ministry provides a framework for organization and preparedness. Requests for help are received through the pastor, membership care committee, outreach committee, or the church office. Each request is reviewed by the steering committee for appropriateness and feasibility. The Good Neighbor data base, which is a listing of member’s skills and interests, is searched for persons having the skills to respond to the immediate need for help. A phone tree is used to call members to action by providing basic information about the crisis and determine if the member is available and willing to volunteer. In addition to providing rest, comfort, and relief to those who are hurting, this ministry allows Benson Memorial to be recognized as a caring and involved church in our community. Some of those whom we help may see God working through our action and choose to know him better. The Good Neighbor Ministry provides for each of us:
Is it worth the effort to become involved? Read Matthew 25:40. We are reminded that whatever you do for the least of your brothers and sisters, you do for Christ. If you'd like more information on the Good Neighbor Ministry, contact the Coordinator, Jack Robinson at 9l9-78l-5251. |
| Information on Disaster Preparedness In the event of an emergency or major disaster, the Benson Memorial Good Neighbor Ministry is prepared to provide assistance and coordinate with other faith based organizations and the Wake County Emergency Management. However, whether at work or home, there are measures which you can take in advance to increase your preparedness. If you would like to volunteer for the Good Neighbor Ministry, please click on the link, "The Good Neighbor Neighbor Ministry Survey" (posted above), or contact Jack Robinson at 919-78l-5251. The following links will take you to websites that provide more information on preparing for disasters: Ready North Carolina American Red Cross - Disaster Preparedness Info FEMA Emergency Planning |
| Urban Ministry Center As a congregation who sponsors the Urban Ministry Center, we make a covenant with the people of Raleigh who lack basic necessities of life to respond to their needs with tangible help. We are also committed to offer services that enable those who are disadvantaged to provide for themselves, when possible. It is also a responsibility of the Urban Ministry Center to present the problems of poverty to the community. Some of the ministries offered by the Urban Ministry Center of Raleigh include: The Open Door Clinic: Free of charge clinic operated by volunteer health professionals to low-income persons within Wake County (832-0820). The Crisis Intervention Center: Helps individuals in crisis with financial help, counseling, food distribution, employment services, and referral services (834-4707). The Ark Shelter: Emergency shelter for men and women every night of the year. include literacy programs, AA meetings, (833-1478). Benson Memorial does the 5th Sunday meal for the shelter. |
| Food Bank We are supportive of the Food Bank when the occasion arises such as the Winn-Dixie Food Bank day at the Fair which started October 1993. We recruit members of our church to collect and load canned goods on the day that people can get free tickets to the fair by bringing canned goods. Others do some volunteer work with them during the year. |
The Women's Prison Ministry At each visit, we take refreshments which are really appreciated by the inmates. Also, we share a short devotional time as well as spirited singing with them. Our goal is to let these women know they are not forgotten and that we accept and care for them as fellow Children of God. A yearly training session is required by the Department of Corrections for all volunteers. After this session, we all are blessed by this wonderful outreach opportunity. Both women and men are needed and welcomed. We truly have a great time with each visit! CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION: Pat Lee -- 787-9406 or email patleencsu2002@hotmail.com |
| The 1 Can Challenge When we consider the alarming statistics regarding world hunger it is easy to feel overwhelmed and unsure of how to respond in a meaningful way.Right here in North Raleigh there are people who do not have enough to eat. What can we, as a local congregation, do to help? Will you consider adding a little something to your offering each Sunday? The youth would like to challenge you to bring one can of food each week to be donated to the North Hills Crisis Center. When you do your grocery shopping, why not pick up something extra for the less fortunate? Just one can of food per week will make a significant difference, especially if the entire congregation participates. |
| North HillsCrisis Center Established to meet the needs of families and individuals with emergency situations who live in the North Hills community. Services include providing Christian encouragement, food and emergency financial aid. CONTACT: North Hills Crisis Center |
