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Special offerings
IGRC congregations are invited to participate in the special offerings of the annual conference session by taking up a special collection and sending it with their pastor and clergy member to conference.

A farewell gift, honoring Bishop Sharon A. Brown Christopher, will be collected at Wednesday’s opening worship. Funds from this offering will be used to establish an education fund in Liberia that will provide scholarships and funds for building of schools. An endowment goal of $150,000 has been set to fund 150 scholarship into perpetuity. Funds can also be sent directly to the Conference Treasurer and designated for Fund 6995 – Liberia Education Fund.

Conference Lay Leader Rhonda Whitaker has also challenged lay members to annual conference to contribute $20 each to provide $20,000 to build a school in Monrovia that currently meets for half-days sessions at the John Kofi Asmah UMC. Half of the 720 students crowd into the sanctuary for morning classes while a second set meet in the afternoons. Funds can also be sent directly to the Conference Treasurer and designated for Fund 6990 – John Kofi Asmah School.

The Africa University Task Force will also be taking a special offering on Thursday morning that will be used to provide a scholarship for a Liberian student to attend Africa University. Fund 0073 – Africa University.

The Tom Brown Scholarship Fund will be the recipient of Friday morning’s special offering, affirming our long-standing ties with the historic Black College. Brown, a pastor in the former Central Illinois Conference, served as a college trustee. Fund 0055 – Tom Brown Scholarship, Wiley College.

The Ordinands will also be taking a special collection at Friday’s Ordination service, which will provide funds for them to travel to Liberia on a work mission trip next spring. The Conference Board of Ordained Ministry is also assisting in this effort by hosting a luau at Peoria First UMC on Wednesday evening. Tickets can be ordered on your special meals form. Fund 6640 – Ordinands’ Mission Trip.

A final special offering will be taken Saturday morning for the Global AIDS Fund, aim at eradicating this global disease. Fund 3115 – HIV/AIDS Fund.

Mission projects
The Midwest Mission Distribution Center will be collecting flood buckets and flood bucket supplies to replenish their stock after hundreds of buckets were sent to the Watseka and Pontiac and to Southern Illinois this spring. Clilck here for a list of materials for flood buckets.

A canned food drive for Harvest, a local food pantry, will be held during Annual Conference. Canned goods and other non-perishable items will be accepted.

The Annual Conference blood drive will be held on Thursday, June 5, from noon to 5 p.m. in fellowship hall of Bethel UMC, 210 N. Richard Pryor Place in Peoria. This is just a few blocks south of the Civic Center. Annual conference members will be able to go over during their lunch break on that day. Shuttle service will be available for those not wishing to walk.
Visit the Red Cross site directly to schedule an appointment. Enter the zip code 61602 and find the drive scheduled for Thursday, June 5. Click on the date then follow the prompts to register. This site will also give you an 800 number to call to make an appointment.

As an added perk, a representative from the Joseph & Hishon Chiropractic Office in Peoria will be there to offer a 5 minute massage to anyone who donates blood.