Funding push continues for UMCSC mission initiatives to provide houses, bicycles for people in need

By Jessica Brodie

Collections continue this month for Annual Conference mission initiatives to provide houses for homeless families and bicycles for people with transportation needs.

UMCSC Resident Bishop Jonathan Holston told the Advocate he hopes every church will commit to helping the initiatives.

“By doing so, United Methodists in South Carolina will learn the impact we make when we ‘walk by faith and not by sight’ in ministry,” Holston said, referring to the theme of the 2017 Annual Conference.



Money needed by Dec. 31 for Homeless Initiative

By Dec. 31, the South Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church is hoping to collect $100 per church or individual for an initiative to sponsor homes for homeless families in the Greenville area, where the 2017 Annual Conference will be held June 4-7.

The conference is partnering with Homes of Hope—an agency with a mission to transform lives and break the poverty cycle—on the project. The conference sponsors 25 percent of the cost, and Homes of Hope pays for the rest.

In order to sponsor a home, the conference needs to sign a letter of commitment. Two homes have already been sponsored by churches in the Greenville District (Buncombe Street and Covenant UMCs), and the UMCSC wants to sponsor two more funded by churches and individuals across the state.

Funds should be paid by Dec. 31 so the homes can be built by Annual Conference. Labor teams will be organized closer to Annual Conference for volunteers to do painting, landscaping and other tasks at the homes.

To contribute or pledge online today, click here.



Bikes also needed

Also by Annual Conference, districts are being asked to get their youth groups to donate 100 new or gently used bikes per district to the UMCSC’s Bikes for the World Project. Of the 1,200 total bikes collected, 1,000 will be distributed to the international nonprofit group Bikes for the World, which ships bikes to low-income families across the world. The remaining 200 bikes will be given to two nonprofits in the Upstate, Triune Mercy Center in Greenville and the South Main Chapel and Mercy Center in Anderson to be given to children and adults who cannot afford a bike—many who need one for basic transportation.

They are also collecting $10 per bike for the shipping charge.

Bike collections are being organized in each district. To learn more, contact your district office here.