Faith in action stories

ALEDO -- A June 30 Malaria No More Concert in Aledo raised $6,000 for Imagine No Malaria. In all, five hours of Christian music combined with testimonies of personal contact with malaria and games for children complemented cooperative weather.

United Methodist Women at Arthur UMC joined a sewing machine drive that is helping Haitian women help their families. With sewing machines, Haitian women could make clothing for their families or earn money for housing, better food and medical care by making and selling crafts, clothing or other items. Arthur UMW put out a call in the church and community for sewing machines. The church and community responded with more than 60 sewing machines.

Members of Fairfield First UMC purchased three-speed box fans and distributed them. As a way to keep the financial burden off the church budget, the congregation held a rummage sale in the church’s fellowship hall and a pork burger sale. More than $2,200 was raised during this one-day event and the first 100 fans were ordered. By the end of the summer more than 250 fans had been distributed in Fairfield and throughout Wayne County.

Springfield Woodside UMC hosted a bicycle/school supply give-away at Laketown Ministries Resale Shop Aug. 25. A total of 15 bicycles, donated by Midwest Mission Distribution Center, were given to needy children. Twenty backpacks loaded with school supplies were also distributed with 12 other back packs were donated to local schools.

Fairview Heights Christ UMC is working with Bishop Palmer, Bishop Elias Galvan and Honduran Superintendent Juan Gurrereo to plant the first United Methodist church in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

McKendree University student Nykhala Coston tells about a mission trip taken by 14 students and Chaplain Tim Harrison to Chicago and its impact on their lives.

The “Sewing for Missions” is an amazing blessing for the Good Shepherd’s Parish, which consists of the Witt, Hillsboro, Fillmore and Coffeen United Methodist Churches. People from all faiths in the nearby communities of Witt, Nokomis, Hillsboro, Irving, Ohlman, Litchfield, Owaneco and Rochester have come forward to share their talents and work together on the sewing for mission project.

A September 2010 trip to Paraguay was the 12th time that Belleville St. Matthew UMC has sent a team since 1998. Many of the same personnel have gone on each of the trips and have been able to develop ongoing relationships with the missionaries living there.

About 3,000 freshmen and transfer students at Eastern Illinois University participated in a morning of service called Jumpstart to G.I.V.E. (getting involved in volunteer efforts). The EIU Wesley Foundation organized two service projects, making flood buckets and health kits for the Midwest Mission Distribution Center.

Herrin First UMC has loaned use of its basement cafeteria and offered the $8,000 startup money that is eventually reimbursed through the United States Department of Agriculture for a much needed summer meal program. Most parents are working during the day and don't have time to come home during the noon hour and feed their children.

The administrative council of Jacksonville Grace UMC made the decision for The Salvation Army to run its services out of the church during construction of a new citadel. The moving date will depend on the success of The Salvation Army’s capital fund drive. The agency will stay at the church as long as it takes to construct the citadel.

Camp Point UMC held its third annual Mission Extravaganza and in three hours' time, assembled 500 UMCOR flood buckets from the supplies purchased with funds raised by the church.

A total of 16 volunteers from the St. Joseph UMC(Iroquois River District), was part of a 50-person contingent which spent a week working on a variety of mission projects in Cincinnati. The St. Joseph group was divided into two teams which spent time at eight different agencies. Mission work included caring for handicapped children; salvaging, cleaning and preparing school supplies; gardening; moving furniture; serving in a food/clothing pantry; assisting staff at a day camp; spending time with senior citizens, and even telemarketing.

The combined youth program of Atlanta, Ebenezer, Mclean and Waynesville is looking to make a "Day of Change!" Looking to serve with their hands and feet, the youth are embarking on making a change in the life of a single parent family in McLean on Saturday, June 26. Volunteers, monetary contributions and prayer are among the ways you can help.

Children and families from Fairview Heights Christ UMC join together to provide tools for earthquake-torn Haiti.

A total of 14 volunteers from Pleasant Grove and Bloomington Grace UMC's spent Feb. 21-27 working and building in Pass Christian, Miss.