News and Needs of The Missionary Society By Ruth Mahnke February 2003

ARGENTINE MISSION

Despite facing a severe financial crisis within Argentina, the Asociacion Civil Cristiana Congregacional (the Argentine Mission) has been able to provide medical care, food, and educational assistance through its Child Sponsorship Program to the poorest of children residing in shanties surrounding the mission. For $40 per month or $480 annually—churches, individuals, or Sunday Schools may sponsor one child through this program. Upon receipt of funds, the donor(s) will receive personal information about the child they are sponsoring. Preferences may be given for a boy or girl. It is hoped that an ongoing relationship, overseen by the mission, will develop between sponsors and the adopted child. Sponsorship donations should be mailed through the Missionary Society.

Dr. Harding Stricker provides medical care to an average of 350 patients per month at the recently expanded mission medical clinic. A nurse assists him. The clinic also provides patients with any necessary medications. Due to the severe financial crisis in Argentina, the medical clinic has seen a dramatic increase in the number of patients being treated for malnourishment. Emergency food relief is being supplied to those in need. Families are provided donations of powdered milk, flour, sugar, and cooking oil.

God’s Garden Project has been expanded to 54 parcels of land. The community garden allows families who are not landowners to grow vegetables and keep livestock as a means of feeding their families. A small portion of these food products is sold. Teaching self-sufficiency is the goal of the project. Recent donations through The Missionary Society have resulted in improvements to this project including the drilling of a well, providing access to a water supply, and the construction of a small chapel.

SALES BENEFIT TRAVANCORE COUNCIL

The Travancore Church Council, located in southern India, offers hand-embroidered linen items for sale through the Women’s Fellowship. Linen luncheon sets, tablecloths, and bedding items are 100 percent hand-made. Seventy-five low-income women receive wages from the profits of these items. All embroidered items are very reasonably priced and display the exceptional talents of the women. A catalogue of items for sale and samples of cloth and threads are available upon request. For further information, please contact the mission directly at:

Rev. Kenaz Solomon
Travancore Church Council
3 Henry Street
Krishnancoil, Nagercoil 629 001
Kanyakumari District
Tamil Nadu, South India

The Women’s Fellowship also oversees 14 adult literacy centers, 15-day care centers, and 4 sewing schools.
 

The Travancore Council of Churches includes a large youth ministry. To coordinate the various activities within the churches the council has begun the Christian Youth Welfare Association. The Association conducts youth retreats, free medical camps, organizes prayer cells, and aids churches in youth programming through youth leader retreats.

NEW DIRECTOR AT MORGAN SCOTT

Jill Scott is the new director of the Morgan Scott Project located in Deer Lodge, Tennessee. She resides in Scott County with her husband and two daughters. The Morgan Scott Project was established in 1972 and serves the poor, elderly, and disabled residents of Morgan and Scott counties in eastern Tennessee.

Each spring the Morgan Scott Project sponsors the Good Earth Program. Families receive vouchers to purchase seeds or tools for their gardens, which are used as a supplemental food source. During 2002, 201 families received fifteen-dollar vouchers.

Two new programs have been adopted by the Morgan Scott Project, the Huntsville After-School Program and the G.Y.M. (God is Your Master) Club. Volunteers from Scott County run both programs. The Huntsville After-School program gives children a place to go after school for homework assistance and games offered with a Christian perspective. The Winfield Church, located in a very poverty-stricken area of Scott County, runs the G.Y.M. Club. The program provides a hot meal to children on Wednesday nights who otherwise would not receive an evening meal. Morgan Scott supplies both of these programs with food donations.

Additionally, the Morgan Scott Project offers an emergency aid program for utilities, rent, and food. During the summer months (June, July, and August), an average of 95 persons receive assistance. However, that number rises dramatically during the fall and winter months. The mission supports a thrift store for low income residents as well as the Bread Day Program that assists approximately 70 families per week.

Your prayerful and financial support of these projects would be gratefully appreciated.

MISSIONARY SOCIETY MEMBERSHIPS

The Missionary Society has long been committed to a policy of Dollar for Dollar Giving. Every dollar given to missions goes to missions. Administrative expenses are paid from separate administrative funding. In an effort to ensure Dollar for Dollar Giving, the Missionary Society Division invites you to become a contributing member of the Missionary Society. As a member, you will receive a special invitation to the Mission’s Breakfast at the Annual Meeting. Members also receive special mailings with in-depth information regarding mission projects. You may become a member of the Missionary Society by making an annual contribution to the MS Administrative Fund:

• Bronze Membership $100
• Silver Membership $250
• Gold Membership $500

Contributions may be mailed to:

The Missionary Society, NACCC
PO Box 288
Oak Creek, WI 53154

Please designate your gift as MS Membership.

SEAFARER'S FRIEND

Seafarer’s Friend serves the unmet needs of seafarers aboard commercial vessels in New England. Chaplains and volunteers provide Ditty Bags filled with small gifts and personal items to seafarers who have often been away from home for months. Since 9/11, US Government restrictions have greatly limited the ability of seafarers from international locations to access goods while ships are docked. Donations of items for ditty bags are accepted from congregations, mission and women’s groups, and Sunday Schools.

Additional information regarding the ministry of Seafarer’s Friend and volunteer opportunities are available on the mission website at: