12 Mar Jamaica Conference’s Financial Model

I’ve been attending Jamaica’s annual conference this week. I don’t usually report on finances when I visit a national conference, but Jamaica Conference deserves special recognition.

Until 2004, Jamaica Conference was receiving an appropriation of about $20,000 from Global Ministries. But the practice of giving appropriations for conference operations ended that year.

The follow year, Jamaica ended the year with a deficit of approximately $23,500 US. However this situation has improved steadily. In 2008 they finished the year with a surplus of $8600 US.

In 2009 they ended the year with a surplus of $11,300 US. But note that last year they also paid off debts on three properties (Malvern, Hazard, and Iterboreale) and raised $24,000 for missions for a total of $11,400 in spending beyond what they had budgeted. All this during a time of recession.

In 2010 they plan to continue improving their pastors’ pensions and provide life insurance. They also hope to hire an administrative bishop to free Bishop Winston Smith to spend more time coaching pastors and encouraging the growth of the conference. All this while maintaining their commitment to raise funds for missions.

What a tremendous model for other conferences! Congratulations to Bishop Smith and his team.

10 Mar Renovating Mattru Hospital

Much progress has been made in renovating Mattru Hospital in Sierra Leone. After attending a meeting of the Mattru Hospital Medical Board, the United Nations representative was so impressed that she went back to Freetown and wrote a check for the balance of the renovations.

Some of the work that has been done:

• The maternity ward has been renovated with a new roof, new ceiling, and new delivery rooms.
• The laboratory has new shelving and new tile work.
• The surgery room is renovated
• Housing area for two Nigerian mid-wives has been completely renovated.
• The Danke Koroma Foundation will completely renovate another building at their expense.
• The nation’s First Lady has chosen to renovate the doctor’s residence.

10 Mar Kline Family Back in the States

David and Melissa Kline and children arrived back in the States after the long flight from Macau. They stopped in the Healthy Ministry Resources office briefly yesterday.

They’ll spend a week in Huntington, then head to Florida for a couple weeks of vacation. After that, they’ll be visiting a number of supporting churches and doing other traveling.

10 Mar Jeff Bleijerveld in Jamaica

Jeff Bleijerveld, Director of Global Ministries, is currently attending Jamaica National Conference. He will speak during the Thursday night service on March 11. He’ll fly back to the States on Monday, March 15.

10 Mar 7 Beautiful Family Children Need Sponsors

About 135 children in India are being sponsored through the Beautiful Family ministry. These are children whose parents (or they themselves) have leprosy or whose parents are HIV positive (or have died from AIDS). The sponsors include United Brethren individuals, churches, WMF groups, and Sunday school classes.

Global Ministries has information about seven more children who need sponsors.

$20 per month supplies one child with all school supplies, books, clothing, food, and medical needs. They stay in a “hostel” which is like a dorm, and only go home periodically for holidays. They are taught Bible stories, songs and Bible verses, so they are receiving a Christian religious background as well as their regular education through this support.
Contact Darlene in the Global Ministries Office for more information and a pledge sheet.

Toll-free: 888-622-3019, ext. 312
Email: darlene@ub.org