BY TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR
Christ United Methodist Church has been focusing on mission projects that touch lives both near and far, here in the Merrill community and as far away as Africa and other third-world countries globally.
Despite the limitations of the pandemic, the congregation remains passionate about its dedication to missions, both local and global, which continued in 2021, 2022, and 2023, with plans to continue their work long into the future.
Little Dresses for Africa Mission invitation
Members of Christ United are inviting the public to join them in the Church Gathering Room at 300 N Mill St. in Merrill on Saturday, April 29, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for a work day making “Little Dresses for Africa.”
The “Little Dresses for Africa” program creates simple little dresses, made simply by reconstructing pillowcases and adding embellishments, which are then sent to orphanages, churches, and schools in Africa to be distributed to young girls. The intent of the mission project is not only to supply these girls with articles of clothing, but also to plant the message in the hearts of these young girls that they are worthy, organizers said.
Bring your own sewing machine or come help with cutting, pinning, ironing, or hand-stitching. ALL skill levels are needed and welcome, organizers said.
The dresses are simple, yet time consuming to put together, they said. However, the time they spend creating the little dresses is a time of fellowship, laughter, and love. “We’re not only sending dresses … we’re sending HOPE,” they said.
For more information about this project, call the church office at 715.536.4676.
Biogas stoves for family cooking through Heifer International
A recent mission project at Christ United was collecting funds to purchase biogas stoves through Heifer International for families to use for cooking. In many areas that Heifer International works with, it is the task of young children, often girls, to collect wood or whatever they can find for the family to use for cooking, mission organizers for this project said. These youth often roam far from the villages to find enough fuel for the family needs which puts them in great danger in such communities. In addition, smoke inhalation in poorly ventilated homes often leads to chronic lung and eye diseases.
By providing biogas stoves, the families can use animal waste for cooking, thus reducing the risk to the children, as they do not have to roam in unsafe areas to find fuel, organizers said. There are also environmental advantages to using these types of stoves, they added.
An informational display was created at the church and the project was a huge success, enabling the church to send a check for $1,441.00 for the purchase of such stoves for families in villages in Africa.
Mission projects both near and far
Christ United supports multiple mission projects right here in Merrill including the Fill-a-Backpack program and the Summer Lunch Program.
They also support other mission projects reaching others much farther away such as Freshwater Wells, Ghana Medical Supplies, Mujilla Falls Missionary, and Operation Christmas Child.
In addition, they help sponsor Souper Bowl of Caring, Easter Chicks, Turkey Bags, and the Vegetable Seed Program.
For more information about any of their mission work, contact the church office at 715.536.4676.