South African Methodists offer hope to refugees

Children gather at the preschool and child care ministry of Central Methodist Mission in Johannesburg, South Africa. They include refugees whose families have fled Zimbabwe and are being served by the church's "Ray of Hope" ministry. A UMNS photo by Faye Richardson.

A UMNS Report By Linda Bloom*

South African Methodists are offering a "ray of hope" to homeless asylum seekers, refugees and displaced people crowding into the capital city of Johannesburg.

At Central Methodist Mission, the refugees find shelter, food, clothing, child care, counseling and employment assistance. The mission accommodated some 900 in just the first three months of 2007, and an average of 20 new people arrive each day - the majority from Zimbabwe.

The United Methodist Committee on Relief has assisted by providing $25,000 in grants in the first half of 2007, according to David Sadoo, an UMCOR executive. The grants are "keeping the lights on," he said, and covering other infrastructure costs, "as well as supporting some of the actual programs they have with the refugees."

More than 3,000 people have received services at the mission in the past 15 months. "Since the end of the apartheid government, refugees from all over Africa have sought safety and economic opportunity in South Africa," according to a funding application to UMCOR from the staff at Central Methodist Mission, led by Bishop Paul Verryn. "The worsening situation in Zimbabwe, however, has created a near crisis situation."

The South African government does not recognize Zimbabweans as official refugees. "Individual Zimbabweans who seek to apply for political asylum are confronted by excessive levels of bureaucracy, often waiting more than nine months for their status to be assessed, as well as high levels of corruption in the South African Department of Home Affairs," the application states.

"While applying for refugee status, Zimbabweans are regularly harassed by South African police, detained and often beaten. Like other foreigners in Johannesburg, they are vulnerable to the growing levels of xenophobia and violence against foreigners which are increasingly prevalent in South African society."

Ray of Hope
Through the "Ray of Hope" project, the mission has managed to provide temporary and safe accommodations for homeless asylum seekers, refugees and displaced people; offer one substantial meal each day for temporary residents; and provide food and supplies for infants whose mothers have no financial support.

The project also ensures clean facilities for temporary residents, access to clean water for drinking and washing, and an adequate supply of basic medicines and supplies.

The Rev. Carleen Gerber, pastor of First Congregational Church of Old Lyme, Conn., a United Church of Christ congregation, has witnessed the amazing but difficult work at the Johannesburg church. First Congregational has partnered with the Methodist Church of Southern Africa for 20 years and helped Central Methodist make the connection with UMCOR.

"We really have been so grateful for the level of support and the continuity of support that UMCOR has given," she said.

First Congregational has raised about $8,000 for the project. "We knew that the refugee crisis had been brewing, and there were refugees living in the building," Gerber explained. But it was not until she led a congregational trip to Johannesburg in October 2006 that they "realized the scope of the need."

The sheer numbers can be overwhelming - both for the church staff and the physical plant itself. Central Methodist, for example, has six toilets available for approximately 700 people staying there at any one time. "The conditions are exceedingly difficult," she said.

Circumstances have transformed the six-story, inner-city church into a village, according to Gerber. The offices, classrooms and social service spaces where the church's regular programs operate during the day are given over to the refugees in the evening. Everyone has communal responsibilities, and attendance is required at nightly worship services. Music and "wonderful fellowship" often follow, she noted.

Several of the bigger rooms are allotted to women and children and to married couples. "The biggest number (of refugees) would be single men," she said. "They may have left family behind. They are literally sleeping all over the floors and the stairways and outside the elevators."

Many of the refugees from Zimbabwe are teachers or other professionals and some teach classes at the church. "They're bright, often highly educated people," Gerber said.

Living the Gospel
Specific programs at Central Methodist include:

.A pre-school and extended child care for 120 of the poorest inner-city children, including many refugee children, along with an infant care program for 20 children under age 2;
.A small legal aid clinic run by two college-educated refugees from Zimbabwe who have been trained through Witwatersrand University's legal aid program. The clinic helps refugees who are trying to establish legal status, have been arrested or are threatened with deportation;
.Basic literacy, numeracy and English language programs designed to help refugees and displaced South Africans survive in a demanding environment. The classes are organized and taught by three college-educated refugees from Zimbabwe;
.A free clinic that operates two afternoons a week to provide basic health care, counseling and referrals for patients who need more advanced care. The clinic is run by two volunteer physicians, one South African and one American.

Other Methodist churches in South Africa have provided financial support to Central Methodist, which is working with various governmental and international agencies "to obtain a building which can provide temporary accommodation on a formal and permanent basis."

The efforts of Verryn and other staff at the mission made the front page of The New York Times in a June 23 article citing Central Methodist Mission's refugee work. The Zimbabwean reported in 2006 that an "endless queue" of at least five people from Zimbabwe wait each day outside Verryn's office.

Gerber said her congregation's relationship with Central Methodist has provided a teaching opportunity. "The people of Central Methodist are living the Gospel in a courageous way that should inspire each and every one of us," she said.

Donations to the Ray of Hope project can be made through UMCOR Advance No. 982540, Global Refugee Response, and dropped in local church collection plates or mailed directly to UMCOR at P.O. Box 9068, New York, NY 10087-9068. Credit card donations can be made online at http://secure.gbgm-umc.org/donations/advance/donate.cfm?code=982540&id=3019059 or by calling (800) 554-8583.

*Bloom is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in New York.

Emergency appeal aims to save refugees in Chad
By Diane Denton*

Responding to an emergency appeal from the United Nations, Nothing But Nets is raising $400,000 to distribute insecticide-treated sleeping nets in Chad for 200,000 refugees displaced by violence in Darfur. A UMNS photo courtesy of ACT International.

CHICAGO (UMNS) - Warning that malaria could kill thousands of refugees in Chad as the African nation's rainy season begins, the United Nations Foundation launched an emergency fundraising appeal July 16 to purchase 40,000 insecticide-treated sleeping nets.

The foundation called on Americans to help raise $400,000 to respond to the immediate need of people living in 15 refugee camps along Chad's eastern border with Sudan and its southern border with the Central African Republic.

Children are particularly at risk among the more than 200,000 refugees displaced by spreading violence in the Darfur region of Sudan. U.N. officials estimate that 25 percent of children under age 5 living in the camps will die from malaria without protection at night, when mosquito-borne malaria is usually transmitted.

The money is being raised through Nothing But Nets, a grassroots campaign to distribute the life-saving nets. The people of The United Methodist Church are among the founding partners of the 2006 initiative, which urges people to "send a net, save a life" for the cost of $10 per net.

Immediate need
Speaking at a news conference to launch the campaign, organizers said the prevalence of malaria in refugee camps is expected to rise sharply with the start of the region's rainy season in June.
"To meet this immediate need in Chad, the U.N. Foundation, through our Nothing But Nets campaign, is asking individuals to answer our call - 10 dollars at a time," said Kathy Bushkin Calvin, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the foundation.

"A donation of 10 dollars is all it takes to purchase and distribute a life-saving net and educate a community health worker on its proper use."

Assistance is being sought from relief organizations working together in Chad, including UNICEF, the U.N. High Commission on Refugees and the MENTOR Initiative. Responding to an emergency request from the United Nations, the U.N. Foundation pledged to raise $400,000 to purchase, ship and distribute the nets.

Also attending the news conference were representatives from several Nothing But Nets partner organizations, including the NBA's Chicago Bulls, a local partner.

"We need about 40,000 bed nets for 15 temporary camps in Chad right now," said Bulls forward Luol Deng, a native of Sudan and a national spokesman for Nothing But Nets. "One of every four children would die in the rainy season without nets. I'm personally committed to this issue and supporting the appeal, and I'm proud to say my team, the Chicago Bulls, has taken this issue to heart."

Steve Schanwald, executive vice president for business operations for the Bulls organization, presented the foundation with a check for $10,000 to purchase the first 1,000 bed nets and pledged to mobilize basketball fans to help.

Humanity United, a U.S.-based social investment organization, has agreed to match donations dollar for dollar and net for net for the Chad effort, according to Elizabeth McKee, director of Nothing But Nets.

McKee said the MENTOR Initiative, a United Kingdom-based emergency agency fighting malaria, is working quickly to begin distributing about 1,000 per day. Each net can safely cover five people if used properly, she said.

Calling on United Methodists
Following the news conference, United Methodist Bishop Thomas Bickerton urged the church to respond generously to the emergency.

"This is just another opportunity to do what we do best," said Bickerton, the denomination's spokesman for the campaign. "The United Methodist Church has proven that when a major need arises, we are able to produce significant results to meet the need. This is our opportunity again to respond to a need in the human family."

Bickerton praised the work of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), which has supported efforts to help displaced Sudanese in Chad since 2004 through its partnership with Action by Churches Together (ACT), an international aid alliance.

Earlier this month, UMCOR responded to a new ACT appeal with a grant that will go toward health services, wells, community services and shelter for 35,000 of the most vulnerable people living in camps along the Chad-Sudan border.

UMCOR expects to provide additional assistance in the near future, according to spokeswoman Linda Beher.

The foundation's emergency appeal came during a series of Nothing But Nets events this month in Chicago as part of a U.S. multi-city tour to raise money and awareness for malaria prevention. The Chicago events involve the people of The United Methodist Church, the Chicago Bulls, the WNBA's Chicago Sky, the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer, MLS W.O.R.K.S., the U.N. Foundation and the Luol Deng Foundation.

Interfaith breakfast
More than 100 Chicago-area faith leaders attended a July 17 interfaith breakfast hosted by First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple. Together, they prayed for victims of malaria and talked about opportunities to support Nothing But Nets.

United Methodist Bishop Hee-soo Jung of the Chicago area told the group he plans to fast one meal a day for 100 days in behalf of the campaign. He pledged $10 for every meal he skips.
Others shared personal testimonies about the deadly disease.

"I grew up as a missionary child in Nigeria where malaria is as common as a cold," said the Rev. Karen Hundrieser, pastor of Worth (Ill.) United Methodist Church. "I had it so bad once that, 35 years later, I still remember the pain and thinking I wasn't going to make it through the night."
Hundrieser's church is getting pledges of $10 for a net for every $100 donated to its building repair program. "To date, we've raised enough for 45 nets," she said.

High school student Martin Kim of Roselle (Ill.) United Methodist Church said Nothing But Nets has a particular appeal to young people.

"One of the things that motivates me as a youth is when people say, 'You're just a child, you can't do that.' The fact is, with Nothing But Nets, $10 can save a life," Kim said.

Chicago Fire star Diego Gutierrez told those at the breakfast that living in a global community "has a lot of perks but also a lot of responsibility." He reminded the group that all children are important, whether they live in Europe, the United States or Africa. "We have to live in a place where children don't die just because of where they're born geographically," he said.

Malaria 'boot camp'
At a July 16 malaria "boot camp" sponsored by Nothing But Nets, players from the Bulls, the Fire and the Sky helped educate local youth about malaria and how they can spread awareness, involve others and raise money.

Speaking to the 250 youth ages 8 to 17, Bickerton reminded the crowd that "nets save kids' lives!"

"Every 30 seconds, a child dies from malaria," Bickerton said. "I think most of you in this room have a good chance of living a long, sustained life. Don't those kids in Africa deserve the same chance? Ten dollars and a kid's life has changed."

At the conclusion of his remarks, Bickerton pointed out that perhaps 15 children had died during his brief presentation. "We'd better get busy, don't you think?"

Esther Ikoro, 17, from South Lawn United Methodist Church, said boot camp gave her some good ideas. "I knew I wanted to do something to make a difference, and now I have a focus," she said.

Clarice Woods and Laura McIntee took a day off from work to bring eight youth from Chicago's St. Matthew United Methodist Church. McIntee said she learned about the campaign from the United Methodist Web site at http://www.umc.org/. The church's youth group plans to hold a car wash and bake sale to help.

Vanessa Mendenhall, 15, was among 19 youth that came from Ivanhoe United Methodist Church in Riverdale, Ill. "I learned about malaria and how many people it affects, how many people care about it, and what we can do to help," she said. "I want to see if we could help bring more people to raise money and make more people aware."

Since May 2006, the Nothing But Nets campaign has raised more than $7 million. The average donation is about $60. To donate, visit http://www.nothingbutnets.net/ or www.umc.org/nets.

*Denton is director of public information for The United Methodist Church.

Kenya clinic provides health care amid doctor shortage
By Barry Simmons*

Aggrey Omondi founded a health care clinic in Ugunja, Kenya, thanks to a donationof property from adjacent St. Paul's United Methodist Church. The clinic also is supported by the United Methodist Global AIDS Fund.UMNS photos by Barry Simmons.


UGUNJA, Kenya (UMNS) - In a poor farming town along Kenya's rural western border, the nearest health care provider is a nurse at St. Paul's Methodist Health Center.

The small clinic was founded three years ago next to St. Paul's United Methodist Church on property donated by the Kenyan church. It stands as a beacon of hope for those who are ill or dying with AIDS and other diseases - but has no doctor on staff.

With one clinical officer, four unlicensed nurses and a lab technician, staff members say they are overwhelmed by cases they're not qualified to treat. Together, they provide free care for nearly 300 people living with HIV. Volunteers also visit nearby homes to encourage others to get tested for AIDS.

"Why, why do we have no doctor," asks nurse Dan Rateng, "and then the patient is dying?"
Kenya suffers one of the worst health worker shortages in Africa. It's hardest on rural areas like Ugunja where few doctors want to settle. "There is a shortage," says Rateng. "Why? Because they simply go for the greener pastures."

According to the Center for Global Development, 51 percent of Kenya's doctors have emigrated so that more Kenyan doctors now work abroad than at home. After graduating medical school in Kenya, many move to South Africa, England and other nations where they can multiply their incomes 10 times.

The Kenyan government, which operates several health clinics in the region, employs just three doctors in Siaya District, which serves 450,000 people.

The dearth of available health care is among reasons that local leader Aggrey Omondi founded the clinic in 2004 after his community lost 15 people in one week to dysentery, a common ailment that is preventable with antibiotics.

"By providing this facility," he says, "we are trying to prolong the lives of the people and also make them more productive."

Omondi walks with a severe limp from a childhood cut that went untreated and eventually became infected, leaving him crippled. It is a daily reminder to him that simple medical care could ease the suffering for tens of thousands of people.

"Here we have widowers," he says, pointing to a gathering of AIDS patients at the clinic. "It's a challenging issue. How do you deal with that?"

With one out of four people infected with HIV, Ugunja has one of the highest rates of AIDS in Kenya. Omondi recently started an AIDS/HIV support group that meets each week at the neighboring church.

"Nowadays, having come together, it no longer scares us," says Sylvester Opiyo, a participant in the support group. "We've got the virus. We have to (live) with it."

"If you see those who are very sick and you get scared, really scared," says Pamea Ouko, who recently joined the group after discovering she is infected with HIV. "But when you come here together, we are taught to go on with our everyday life."

Omondi recently began work on a maternity wing for women with AIDS to provide them with drug treatments to protect their newborns. A shortage of funds has brought construction to halt, however.

Last December the clinic was so strapped for cash that Omondi was forced to release several clinical officers. The clinic would have closed permanently, he says, if the United Methodist Global AIDS Fund had not committed $10,000 to keep it open.

If the clinic closes, many of the sick will have nowhere to turn, according to Omondi. "We don't have affordable health systems in Kenya - not even health insurance, nothing like that," he says.
*Simmons is a freelance producer based in Nashville, Tenn.

Faith and sacrifice build new church in Zimbabwe

By Shaun A. Lane*

United Methodist Bishops John R. Schol (left) and Eben Nhiwatiwa address the congregation gathered for the Muradzikwa United Methodist Church groundbreaking ceremony in Zimbabwe. UMNS photos by Shaun Lane.

MURADZIKWA, Zimbabwe (UMNS)--The words sacrifice and faith had new meaning for members of a congregation gathered for the groundbreaking of their new church building in Zimbabwe.

The new Muradzikwa United Methodist Church will be built 300 yards from the current structure.

"Everyone is welcome here," sang the choir in their native Shona language as Dawson Pasirai, vice district lay leader of the Zimbabwe Conference, reflected on the strength of the 300-member church and the significance of the June 10 groundbreaking.

"They have had the vision of a new church for a while now," said Pasirai, "and the members here have very little money. But they walk on faith, and now they are on the verge of having a new church."

Taking part in the service were Zimbabwe United Methodist Church officials, including Bishop Eben Nhiwatiwa, and a delegation from the Baltimore-Washington Annual (regional) Conference, including Bishop John R. Schol.

The Baltimore-Washington Conference has been in partnership with the two Zimbabwe annual conferences since 1996.

"The Baltimore-Washington Conference partnership with us is significant in many ways," said Nhiwatiwa. "Bishop Schol has helped to equip our pastors with leadership. And more importantly, it gives us an opportunity to exchange ideas with them."

During the ceremony, Nhiwatiwa asked church members if they had the necessary materials--bricks, mortar and other building essentials--to complete the project. When they answered "yes" to all of the questions, he pronounced the church ready to begin building.

"They still need the money to build," Nhiwatiwa said. "But we cannot promise them anything. The church has to step forward."

Pasirai said the estimated cost of the project is $10,000, but he is confident the money will come.

"We will work on faith," he said. "We do good things here and we want to do more. God will provide. And our members will come through when needed."

Schol said the conference's Hope Fund and Bel Air United Methodist Church will help to close the financial gap, but the people of Muradzikwa are giving generously now.

After the ceremonial groundbreaking, congregants walked up to the groundbreaking hole and placed money in it, singing and dancing the entire time.

"They make sacrifices every day just to survive sometimes, so giving extra money for a new building will not break them," Pasirai said. "This church started in 1905 and God has provided every step of the way. This will not be any different. We serve a very good God."

*Lane is director of communications for the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference