Mission
Ludington United Methodist Church is involved with mission projects locally, nationally and internationally.
2010 Haiti
2009 Mission to Henderson Settlement in Frakes, KY
H.E.L.P. Ministry
Zambia
At the international level, in 2010 the United Methodist Church of Ludington sent two mission teams to Haiti. The first was to Port-au-Prince six weeks after the devastating earthquake. Dave H. and two men from other UMCs in Michigan took medical supplies and food to those in need. Our church is supporting the Baudin Elementary School in a small village outside of Cap Haitien, Haiti. So far this past year, we have spent approximately $3,000 towards teacher's pay and books at Baudin. In June, a mission team of 8 persons, including 3 from sister churches, went to Baudin and put a new roof on one of the classroom buildings, constructed a basketball and volleyball court, repaired the church roof, held a Vacation Bible School for 200 children, helped serve hot lunches, plus augmented the teacher's pay with funds for their transportation.
Our congregation has also led six mission trips to Zambia between 2004 and 2008. After a fact finding trip in 2004 our church financed and built a 300 seat church in Kapisha-Soweto compound in northern Zambia in 2005. We installed doors on the new church and built church benches. Also, we put on a Bible School for the children of the church and other children in the area. More recently, UMC has played a major role in raising money for the construction and operation of a four building orphanage in Zambezi, in northwest Zambia, run by Pastor Bernard Lumene. Some of the mission groups have helped with the construction of the orphanage including painting roof trusses and building a new roof. All the mission groups have spent quality time interacting with the orphans and members of the Zambian chruches. UMC has helped raise money for the orphans to plant crops so they eventually will become self-supportive. We continue to help fund the orphans' education. In 2009 and 2010 our congregation has been financially supporting the Bwafano Care Project which feeds up to 1,500 street children. Our church has also supported missionaries Delbert Groves and Paul Webster in Zambia.
At the national level, UMC of Ludington has been going to the Henderson Settlement in Frakes, Kentucky for eight years. We have worked on many outreach programs in the community there which include room additions, new roofs, and interior repair and remodeling in the homes. Besides working on projects in the community, we have also spent many hours working at the settlement, at the Henderson farm, in the community center, in after-school programs, and in general mantenance projects around the settlement. Another important part of the Henderson experience for us is the opportunity to interact with volunteers from other churches during the free time, and in morning worship and evening programs. We have also supported the Hurricane Katrina Relief Project and continue to support United Methodist Committee On Relief (U.M.C.O.R.), blankets for Sudan, and many other UMC mission programs.
At the local level, we have been offering a Community Garden program at our church. A few members of the church help the Salvation Army on the Advisory Board, work at the S.A. thrift store, and co-ordinate bell ringers for the Christmas Kettle Drive with 65 UMC members participating in 2009. Many donate to the S.A. food pantry. Other projects include helping local agencies such as COVE - Women's Shelter, H.E.L.P. Ministries, Jericho House, and families who were victims of house fires. In 2009-2010 our church hosted homeless persons from Mason County for two weeks, giving them shelter and food under the Hospitality Inc. program. |
