UMC #GivingTuesday is Dec. 2, 2014

9/25/2014

Learn About Oregon-Idaho Missionaries Learn what you can do to promote #GivingTuesday.

As you may remember, in 2013 on UMC #GivingTuesday, United Methodists collectively raised a record $6.5 million on line. Through The Advance, 11,000 individuals and churches in 34 countries gave more than 16,300 gifts to mission and ministries they believe in. It was a wonderful sign of commitment and extravagant generosity, maximizing the impact of thousands of United Methodists coming together on one day to transform the world.
On Dec. 2, 2014 United Methodists once again are invited to extend the spirit of giving thanks into the Advent season by participating in UMC #GivingTuesday.

When Methodists are united . . . we provide an alternative to the consumer-driven shopping traditions in the United States of Black Friday, Local Business Saturday and Cyber Monday. UMC #GivingTuesday offers an opportunity to begin the holiday season by giving instead of getting, by supporting organizations and missionaries who have been researched and approved by the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries. And 100% of all gifts made through The Advance are given directly to the designated project.

The United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries announced that on Dec. 2, 2014, it will match up to $1 million in gifts made online to any project through The Advance as part of UMC #GivingTuesday. Directors approved allocating matching funds dollar for dollar up to the first $1 million in gifts to Advance projects received online on Dec. 2, 2014, between 12 a.m. EST and 11:59 p.m. To stretch the matching funds, a maximum of $2,500 per individual gift to a project will be dispersed as matching funds and a project may receive a maximum of $25,000 in matching funds.The board president, Bishop Hope Morgan Ward (North Carolina), also announced that in the spirit of “healthy competition,” Global Ministries is “preparing a special Advance award to be given to the annual conference that raises the most funds online through The Advance on UMC #GivingTuesday 2014.”

It's time now to plan how your local church can publicize the day. Banners, worship resources, graphics and other ideas are available for download on the UMC #GivingTuesday resource page. Easy to use graphics can be found in the toolkit.

UMC #GivingTuesday is a mostly online, social media-driven campaign reminding people that:

As always, 100 percent of each donation made through The Advance will support the project designated by the donor.
There are more than 850 United Methodist-related Advance projects and 300 missionaries that have been reviewed and approved by Global Ministries.

What or who can I donate to?

In the Greater Northwest area we are committed to raising $1 million for Imagine No Malaria, the effort to eradicate malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. Advance # 3021190.

The Oregon-Idaho Conference has relationships with the following missionaries:

Maua Methodist Hospital Service Fund, Kenya	09613A	The Service Fund covers the medical costs of those who cannot pay, thus ensuring the hospital an even cash flow. Without this fund the hospital would risk sinking.
BISWAS, Clara Mirdula		See more at http://www.umcmission.org/Explore-Our-Work/Missionaries-in-Service/ Missionary-Profiles/Biswas-Clara-Mridula
ERBELE, Rev. Terence ERBELE, Rev. Evelyn	10831Z 10832Z	• The Revs. Evelyn and Terence are currently assigned as copastors of the First United Methodist Church of Ketchikan, Alaska. • See more at http://www.umcmission.org/Explore-Our-Work/Missionaries-in-Service/ Missionary-Profiles/Erbele-Eveyln and http://www.umcmission.org/Explore-Our-Work/ Missionaries-in-Service/Missionary-Profiles/Erbele-W-Terence
GITOBU, Esther Karimi	13959Z	• Esther Gitobu is the UMVIM coordinator and a mission interpreter for the Methodist Mission Center in Phnom Penh, Cambodia • See more at: http://www.umcmission.org/Explore-Our-Work/Missionaries-in-Service/ Missionary-Profiles/Gitobu-Esther-Karimi
GREATHOUSE, Gordon GREATHOUSE, Maria Tereza (Teca)	07695Z 07696Z	• Gordon Greathouse currently serves as Missionary in Residence at the General Board of Global Ministries in New York City. Teca is a program developer and teacher in Brazil. • See more at http://www.umcmission.org/Explore-Our-Work/Missionaries-in-Service/ Missionary Profiles/Greathouse-Gordon and http://www.umcmission.org/Explore-Our-Work/ Missionaries-in-Service/Missionary-Profiles/Greathouse-Maria-Tereza
JEFFREY, Rev. D. Paul	09541Z	• Rev. Paul Jeffrey is a writer, photographer, and media specialist documenting the work of the church around the world. • See more at http://www.umcmission.org/Explore-Our-Work/Missionaries-in-Service/ Missionary-Profiles/Jeffrey-Paul
MONROE, Rev. James OWEN, Rev. Sue	982465 list names	• Rev. Jim Monroe and Rev. Sue Owen are Individual Volunteers with the General Board of Global Ministries working at Maua Methodist Hospital in Maua, Kenya. • See more at http://mckmauahospital.org/
PASCUA, Rev. Dr. David	13965Z	• David Pascua is academic dean and professor for Union Theological Seminary in Cavite, Philippines. • See more at http://www.umcmission.org/Explore-Our-Work/Missionaries-in-Service/ Missionary-Profiles/Pascua-David
RODRIGUEZ, Rev. Jorge	933001	• Jorge Rodriguez Flores is serving with the National Plan for Hispanic and Latino Ministries in the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference • See more at http://www.umcmission.org/Explore-Our-Work/Missionaries-in-Service/ Missionary-Profiles/Rodriguez-Jorge
SECKEL, Rev. Carol SECKEL, Rev. Kevin	14285Z 14284Z	Carol and Kevin Seckel are missionaries who were assigned to Germany through June 2014. They will be itinerating throughout the US during the balance of 2014. • See more at http://www.umcmission.org/Explore-Our-Work/Missionaries-in-Service/ Missionary-Profiles/Seckel-Kevin and http://www.umcmission.org/Explore-Our-Work/ Missionaries-in-Service/Missionary-Profiles/Seckel-Carol-Ann

Search for another UMC Advance project to support here.

Thank you for your support and for helping UMC #GivingTuesday successfully unite our church for impact. Should you have any questions or suggestions about UMC #GivingTuesday, please contact advance@umcmission.org

Here are some suggestions for promoting UMC #GivingTuesday

Website
Banners and other resources are available for download on the UMC #GivingTuesday resource page. Please post the UMC #GivingTuesday logo prominently on your conference’s home page with a list and description of which projects and missionaries are conference priorities.

Email Signature
Please consider adding a custom signature line that includes information about UMC #GivingTuesday. Adding this line to every email you send will share information in a way that requires minimal effort.
Think one day of giving thanks isn't enough? Get ready for UMC #GivingTuesday on Dec. 2.

Social Media
You are also invited to raise awareness about UMC #GivingTuesday through your church’s social media networks. Post a graphic from the resource page, encourage people to upload an “unselfie” using one of the graphics, share posts from UMCmission, and help us promote the event with messages like these:
Perfect antidote to overspending on #BlackFriday? UMC #GivingTuesday coming on Dec. 2! #umcmission
Think one day of giving thanks isn't enough? Get ready for UMC #GivingTuesday. Dec. 2 #umcmission

Alternative Giving

Ask church members and pastors to request that Christmas gifts be made as a donation in their name to their favorite Advance project or missionary. Encourage them to ask givers to make the gift on Dec. 2 to maximize the impact.
Ask clergy and laity to make Christmas gifts in in the form of a donation in honor of their friends and family on Dec. 2. Do they still want to present a wrapped gift? Suggest that they:
- Accompany the notification with a token representation of the designated ministry (a framed map of the region, a water bottle for a water project, a hammer for a construction project, etc.).
- Design or purchase a card that reflects the theme of the ministry or a photo of the missionary.