Encounter with Christ in Latin America and the Caribbean needs our attention

Written: 12/16/2008 3:28:05 PM

More than 220 million people in Latin America and the Caribbean live in poverty, many on less than $2 a day.

Through a partnership between the General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM), the Council of Evangelical Churches in Latin America and the Caribbean and the Methodist Church of the Caribbean and the Americas, United Methodists have a wonderful opportunity to help meet the needs of our sisters and brothers in this vulnerable region.

Encounter with Christ in Latin America and the Caribbean provides vital financial resources to address the region’s poverty. Established in 1992, Encounter has helped children to go to school, women to find jobs, communities to receive better health care and clergy and laity to receive training for more effective ministries.

The mission priorities of the fund are focused on evangelism and new church development; women, children and youth; and comprehensive community-based health care. Encounter provides a unique opportunity for current and deferred giving, such as remembering the fund in an individual’s will or other method of planned giving.

According to the program Website, contributions from individuals, churches, annual conferences, foundations and public and private philanthropies continue to build the permanent fund toward the goal of $25 million.

The GBGM administers mission funding from the income generated by the investment of the principal of the permanent fund.

The Encounter staff and annual conference interpreters are currently encouraging congregations and individuals to prayerfully consider making a year-end contribution to Permanent Fund #025100.

For more information, please visit the Encounter Website at http://new.gbgm-umc.org/connections/partnerships/encounter or contact Central Texas Conference interpreter Jennifer Bellamy at Jennifer@ctcumc.org, 817-877-5222 or 800-460-8622.

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