Equipping Communities for Mission - the NYAC Responds
Equipping Communities for Mission - the NYAC Responds
Disaster Response Updates
This past month the NYAC deployed its first Early Response Team to Florida and its second to Texas in support of hurricanes Irma and Harvey recovery efforts. A first team is scheduled for Puerto Rico at the end of February. Teams are also being formed for April 23 to 30, and June 18 to 25. Click here for volunteer guidelines and application.
We are still in need of teams to serve in Texas and Florida as part of their recovery effort.
This month, the NYAC Disaster Response office closed out its formal Superstorm Sandy program, having completed its UMCOR grant commitment. We will continue, however, to work with the St. Bernard Project on Sandy-affected homes as part of our Done-in-a-Day program.
In addition, more than 600 clean-up buckets were delivered to Mission Central in Pennsylvania. This brings our total for the past year to over 1500! The truck was so full of buckets that it had reached its weight capacity. Health kits will go on the next delivery. Our thanks to the many churches and individuals who collected, packed, housed, and delivered the buckets and kits.
Emergency Service Centers
The NYAC has received a $90,000 grant from UMCOR to assist in addressing the needs of persons from Puerto Rico and other Caribbean islands who have relocated to the US-mainland, either temporarily or permanently. This assistance will be through local assistance centers and an Unmet Needs Roundtable.
Early Response Team classes
ERT classes, UMCOR’s basic training for disaster response volunteers, are being held at the following locations:
Centerport (NY) UMC: February 17
Avon (CT) UMC: March 3
Torrington (CT) UMC: March 10
Huntington (CT) UMC: April 21
Click here to register
We are looking to schedule at least 2 ERT Basic and 2 Recertification classes in each district throughout 2018. Contact Tom Vencuss (tvencuss@nyac.com) to schedule an event.
Northeast Jurisdiction UMVIM Disaster Academy – interested in attending?
The NYAC Missions office is willing to sponsor one person from each district who is interested in attending the UMVIM Disaster Academy in Centreville, MD, April 11 to 14. The caveat is that all persons must be willing to serve as the coordinator or a member of their district disaster response committee. All applicants must also receive an endorsement from the District Superintendent. If interested, contact Tom Vencuss (tvencuss@nyac.com).
Abundant Health Ministries – first-ever “Hulapalooza”
All ages are invited to, the first-ever, NYAC Abundant Health “Hulapalooza” Event which will be a multi-faceted event with a “hula hoop” theme that includes activities for all ages! Set aside the date, location, and time:
Saturday, April 7 from 1 to 4 PM
Mt Vernon UMC (227 East Lincoln Avenue)
Mt Vernon, NY
Global Ministries
A Group of 11 persons representing the Caribbean Mission Partnership, the First Flushing UMC, and the Korean Caucus visited Jamaica from February 5th – 9th 2018. The purpose of the trip was to meet with some of the leadership in the Jamaica District of the Methodist Church, the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas, and to visit one of the projects being supported in the District (Roof replacement at the Sterling Castle church and school) by CMP with generous assistance by First Flushing UMC and the Korean Caucus, as well as other opportunities for co-operation and possible future support. Read the blog.
The NYAC Youth Ambassadors will be heading to Haiti on February 17 for eight days.
Volunteer in Mission Teams – Our Conference has a vibrant and exciting domestic and global outreach ministry. We routinely deploy volunteer teams all over the world who work with local missionaries, churches, congregations, and communities to provide immediate assistance, engage in long-term development, and develop meaningful connections and relationships. If you are scheduling a mission journey in 2018, either domestic, disaster response, or international, please advise our Missions office. It is important that we know where our churches or groups are serving on behalf of the Annual Conference; and, upon your return, please provide a summary report.
