On June 8-11, over 1000 United Methodist lay and clergy persons from Connecticut and New York will gather for the 217th Session of the New York Annual Conference. This message is the first in a series detailing what happens at annual conference. Today’s focus is on the four special offerings taken. Many churches organize fundraisers or take special offerings and send their contribution with their delegate to annual conference. The offerings for Annual Conference 2016 are: 

	Imagine No Malaria Initiative The offering at Wednesday’s Opening Worship will be for Imagine No Malaria. The New York Annual Conference has collected $872,000 toward its $1.2 million pledge.  When the initiative began 5 years ago, a child died once every 30 seconds due to malaria and now it is once every 2 minutes. Malaria is a disease that is treatable and beatable. Your contribution enables the work to continue because NO child should die from a preventable disease.
	Black College Fund Thursday’s offering supports the Black College Fund.  In 1972 General Conference established the Black College Fund apportionment.  Today, the church supports 11 historically Black colleges and universities, more than any other religious denomination. Each year a student chosen as the Lina H. McCord Ambassador of the Black College Fund visits in order to personally express thanks for the NYAC’s support. The 2015 ambassador was Nicholas Pettye, a student at Paine College in Augusta, Georgia. Your contribution makes it possible for students like Mr. Pettye to attend college.
	Bishop Jane Middleton School Friday’s offering supports the Bishop Jane Middleton School in Sierra Leone. The school was dedicated in March 2016 and is open, though still under construction.  In the next phase electricity and water will be connected. In spite of these hardships recent test results have indicated that “the school is second to none regarding the achievement of the students,” according to the school’s principal. Many students are not able to attend school because of the cost. Your generous contributions will make it possible for needy youth to receive an education at the Bishop Middleton School.

Young Clergy Debt Assistance Program

The offering for Saturday's Ordination will be for the NYAC Young Clergy Debt Assistance Program.
This fund was the vision and creation of Bishop Martin D. McLee who had a profound desire to provide financial support to clergy aged 40 years or younger serving in the New York Annual Conference. Your support of the fund allows recipients of the award to work toward developing long-term financial planning as well as receive assistance with their educational debt.

Your contributions make a difference!
Matt Curry, Director of Connectional Ministries