Missions of the Nemaha United Methodist Church

Missions

We support many local and international missions.
Local Missions
One local mission we support is the Food Pantry.

The Howard Center in Sac City provides services to persons with disabilities, and also provides Mental Health Services in Sac County. Our church helps support this non-profit organization through charitable contributions.

Among Christians, the tradition of the "Lord's Acre" fund-raising festivals harks back to an era when farmers donated an acre of their crops each year to God in thanksgiving for their bounty. This fundraiser is still held each fall after the crops are out of the fields and gifts are accepted from farm and non-farm Christian members alike. These funds can then be used for mission projects.

All members are encouraged to participate in Christian Stewardship through grateful and responsible use of God's gifts in the light of God's purpose as revealed in Jesus Christ. Christian stewards commit themselves to conscious, purposeful decisions. Stewardship is also lived out in wisely employing God-given human resources, abilities, and relationships; sharing the material resources we hold and giving them in service, justice, and compassion; providing for future generations, sharing in the life, worship, and responsible stewardship of the Church and of its mission both for the individual and for the community.

State and World-wide Missions
Shesler Hall is a haven for women with special needs. Shesler serves women who are recovering from mental illness, are mildly mentally challenged, who need inexpensive living quarters, or who need shelter because they are homeless.

It is a community living environment that enables these women to experience independence. Shesler's program enhances the whole person: physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally. There is no other home of its kind in the area. Nemaha United Methodist Church supports Shesler Hall through donations of money, time, and goods.

We strive to be designated as a Rainbow Covenant church. A congregation must contribute to Advance Special projects in each of the seven bands of the rainbow "second-mile" giving. Each color of the rainbow represents a different aspect of mission:
Red - World Advance Special Projects
Orange - National Advance Special Projects
Yellow - UMCOR Advance Special Projects
Green - World Hunger/Poverty Projects (WHP)
Blue - Iowa Advance Special Projects
Indigo - Parish Development Projects
Purple - Special Sunday Offering Projects

Wherever the need arises, be it a tsunami overseas, people displaced by wars, or natural disasters here and world-wide, you are part of our church's outreach when you participate in the mission offerings.

Our Mission Purpose

World-wide Missions for United Methodist Churches

United Methodists are called to step out of our corner of the world to spread the good news, transform hopelessness into hope and help God's children wherever they may be.

Methodism's founder John Wesley said, "I look upon all the world as my parish." Wesley reminded us that we are called to step out of our little corner of the world to spread the good news, transform hopelessness into hope and help God's children wherever they may be.

I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.

Matthew 25:35-36, NRSV

While it would be wonderful if we could reach out personally to everyone who needs our help, we know that is impossible. So we gather regularly with our congregation and put money into the offering plate, and through a carefully crafted system of United Methodist mission and ministry our gifts stretch around the world.

Your contributions to your local church not only benefit your local congregation, but also have regional, national and international impact through our connectional giving system. Most of the money you give is used to support the ministries of your local church. A small portion funds regional ministries.

Churchwide Giving

Finally, a portion of your giving goes to the general church to support programs on a national and international level, which have been agreed upon by lay and clergy delegates of General Conference. We share the cost of these ministries, with each local church being responsible for contributing a fair portion or "apportionment."

The power of our collective giving enables us to spread the love of Jesus Christ, educate clergy, encourage cooperation with other faith communions, fund General Conference, nurture historically Black colleges and Africa University, and support bishops.

We can go beyond these primary gifts to the church and contribute to additional ministries through the Advance and churchwide Special Sundays with offerings. The Advance for Christ and His Church offers individuals and groups an opportunity to contribute to specific programs, missionaries and ministries of their choice. Six times a year, Special Sundays focus churchwide attention on specific ministries of the church such as promoting peace and justice and providing scholarships and student loans.

We live in a global village, and the world is our parish. When we give generously, our gifts do wonderful, life-changing things in the name of Jesus Christ.

At the general or churchwide level, United Methodists support ministry in three ways.

* Apportioned funds: A portion of each local church budget
* Special Sundays with offerings
* Designated giving

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Nemaha United Methodist Church
120 N 4th Ave
Nemaha, IA 50567

Phone: 712 636-4517 (Church Office) • 712 273-5055 (Parsonage) • 712 660-0546 (Cellphone)
Email: • Website: umc777.org
Nemaha Prayer Chain: • Varina Prayer Chain:

Carl K. Benge, Pastor