Letter from our Bishop

March 11, 2008

Grace and peace to you in the name of the risen Christ!

I have exciting and urgent news to share with you.  I am contacting you well in advance of Annual Conference to invite your prayers and participation in a Miracle Month to retire the debt from the creation of Mission Central. As I travel around the country and across the world and meet with other bishops I am aware that the Central Pennsylvania Conference has an asset in Mission Central which is making a difference in thousands of places, wherever people are desperate.  The extraordinary ministry of providing goods and resources in times of crisis and in times of need is truly a gift through which we are bringing hope and healing to a broken world.

The Seasons of Miracles made possible through Mission Central provide constant inspiration, with new stories daily of astonishing connections of needs met.  And yet, so much more could be accomplished if we can retire the $1.75 million indebtedness and free up these funds for direct ministry and mission.

I need your help!  We are about to announce a “Miracle Month, the Bishop’s Campaign for Mission Central” which will be formally launched at Annual Conference, June 5 to 7, 2008 and will culminate at the end of August. During this period we expect to raise enough money from people like you to pay off this debt and begin an endowment fund, which has been a dream since the founding of Mission Central five years ago.

What can you do?  I will be commissioning you as a member of Annual Conference to go into the vineyards and find 12 disciples who will contribute $100 each. It is my prayer that every member will come forward to be commissioned.  Beginning immediately, I am asking that you join others in the Conference with the guided prayer which you will find each week in QuikLink. I am inviting everyone to participate in a weekly prayer vigil to be held each Wednesday at noon until we reach our goal.  With God’s help, and with your help, we as faith-bearing individuals can make this happen.

Mission Central has been and continues to be a “grass roots” volunteer-driven ministry.  We can move to an even more exciting, intentional ministry if we can succeed in retiring this debt and making funds available to do even more good works on behalf of Christ.  This hands-on miracle will succeed, just as it did five years ago with forward thinking people, with new vigor and, yes, even bigger miracles. Please watch for more information.

Be a miracle worker! Come to Annual Conference using your hands as Christ’s hands.  Pray for God’s help. Be prepared to experience a miracle!

In Christ’s service,

Jane Allen Middleton

MISSION CENTRAL “MIRACLE MONTH” PRAYER VIGIL

MAY 14, 2008

Today was a most wonderful day in worship. Pentecost Sunday - what a wonderful reminder of the power present to us as agents of the most high God. Every time I read the scripture about the events of that day, I'm reminded that this was not a one-time occurrence. Youth in our congregation proclaimed for family and friends alike that they would chose to follow Jesus Christ. They further confessed that together, with all those who have gone before, that we would, "uphold the church with our prayers, our presence, our gifts, and our service."

Long before I entered ministry, faithful men and women taught me in Sunday school. Many took time year after year to teach Vacation Bible School, others remained a faithful witness using their gifts as committee leaders that kept my home church alive and well. I am reminded as the youth made a public profession of their faith that one day they will continue ministries that were handed to them.

I am excited that all who are willing to participate in "Miracle Month," are passing a gift of life to our current and future leaders. What a gift for all of us to know that through our efforts today, thousands find life today and future generations can continue to provide life giving AID to those who have suffered from disaster, poverty, famine or so many other plights that face the world.

Let us remember the power present with us. Let us drive out doubt and fears. Let us proclaim boldly that what you see happen here is not of humankind. Indeed, all that you see before your very eyes is the power of the risen Lord, doing miraculous things through the gifts He has provided to His faithful followers.

Thank you for accepting God's power! Thank you for making a difference. Thank you for being part of a Miracle!

Jeff Fisher, Mission Central Board of Managers

April 30, 2008

"But I just want to do God's will. With this faith I will go out and carve a tunnel of hope from a mountain of despair,". This quote is from Martin Luther King's speech the day before he was shot in 1968, but it spoke to me of our calling as Christians in this day and in this time.

It is so applicable to what we have seen God do through Mission Central as over and over we have seen others glimpse God's  HOPE through mission ministry there. There was a man who asked Harry at the 5th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, Sept. 22nd if he could have one of the bicycles stored at Mission Central. Harry gave him  one and on  the following Monday, the man called to thank Harry and tell him that because he had the bicycle, he had been able to get to a job interview and he GOT THE JOB - he got the HOPE he needed because of Mission Central.

Because of the New Digs program at Mission Central, many folks who have little, work with Ginny to get the household items they need to move into their own housing; many who need food get the help they need through Bethesda Mission housed at Mission Central; folks recovering from flooding get flood buckets from Mission Central; developing countries get computers and medical supplies for their hospitals through Mission Central's shipments - through all these means and more, HOPE is provided through Mission Central.

Won't you please pray for God's continued blessings on the HOPE-GIVING mission ministry at Mission Central and for Miracle Month, so even more opportunities for doing God's will can be possible.

Jean Norris, Board Member