The Upper Midwest Missions Team is excited to announce that we have approved Blessman International (www.blessmaninternational.org) as a Conference endorsed mission! (It is also endorsed by the Global Methodist Church.) It’s a perfect match as South Africa is our partner Conference!
Their ministries are located in South Africa where they provide food for over 55,000 children each week. There are regular outreaches supplying shoes and socks, eyeglasses, and hygiene kits to students at different schools and so much more.
One of the most exciting projects are the wells they drill, which in addition to clean water allow for drip irrigation in a center’s garden, and even building Envira-loo toilets. Can you imagine running a Day Care Center or Creche (preschool) for up to 100 children with no water?! Water is life... and also safety.
This is where your church comes in. The cost of one well is $12,500 and we are challenging all churches in our Conference to raise funds to purchase 3 wells (at least!) to celebrate our upcoming 3rd anniversary as the Upper Midwest Conference. Perhaps you will make the Blessman Well Project one of your Lenten offerings... or have a weekly or monthly “noisy offering” (Kids love collecting this money in metal buckets!)... or have a fundraising dinner or soup supper or potato bar after a worship service or that you share with your community... or... or... ??? The opportunities are endless!
The foundation scripture for the Conference Missions Team is Acts 1:8. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” We want every church to grow in their missions so there will be some kind of support locally (in Jerusalem), regionally including in the Upper Midwest Conference (in Judea), cross-culturally (in Samaria), and in the most un-reached people groups in the 10/40 Window (to the ends of the earth). This Blessman Well Project in South Africa is the perfect mission for your “Samaria” outreach!
If you have questions or ideas email missions@uppermidwestgmc.org. We’d love to share your pictures and ideas in future newsletters!
