U.S. Updates: Partners in Action
ZOE is blessed to have Hope Partners across the United States who are finding creative ways to support this ministry and Give Hope to orphans in Africa. This page features stories of our latest Hope Partners. Read more stories from our ZOE Hope Partners Archive.
Baking For Life – Lakeland, Florida
Students in the Summit Youth Ministry Program at First UMC in Lakeland, Florida are “Baking For Life” to support ZOE Ministry. When Amy Tyner, one of Summit’s adult volunteers, returned from a ZOE trip to Rwanda in January 2009, she challenged each youth to find a way to donate $20 (the amount of the initial grant given to Giving Hope families) to ZOE. Colleen Abel, one of the Summit students, has taken up the challenge by organizing the Baking for Life program. Each week a Summit student bakes homemade goodies which are for sale at Summit’s snack bar. The money from the baked goods (pure profit) goes into a special collection jar and is donated to ZOE Ministry. Colleen baked brownies for the first two weeks of the program and now recruits other Summit members to bake. When asked about Baking for Life, Colleen says it really is a win-win situation. Summit students like buying great homemade goodies and the ZOE kids benefit. She says she likes the idea of Baking for Life because “the ZOE orphans need the money more than we do” and “I like to bake.” In the few weeks since the program began, the Summit students have met their $20 challenge several times over.
Introducing ZOE – Conway, South Carolina
Trinity UMC in Conway, SC hosted a luncheon featuring ZOE’s Executive Director Greg Jenks to introduce ZOE Ministry to their church and community.
Sweet Tooth Fundraiser – East Ohio Annual Conference 2009
At the recent East Ohio Annual Conference held at Lakeside, Ohio, the grandchildren of Dr. Hazel Partington, pastor of Willoughby Hills UMC, came up with a plan to raise money for ZOE. They bought several cases of candy and sold it individually to conference delegates as they walked down the sidewalks to and from the Conference sessions, and at the evening Ministry Fair.
They quickly sold out, raising a total of $267.04 in sales and donations. Next year, they plan to come with more candy! The photo shows ZOE Candy Sellers Sage, PJ, Wesley, Anya, and Jenson having fun promoting ZOE at the Conference Ministry Fair, Wed June 17, 2009. (Not pictured-Mallery)
God Topping Our Dreams – Carrboro, North Carolina
NC based Carrboro UMC raised $475 using ZOE Mission Moments during their July VBS. Pastor Claire Mckeown remarked: “I am so thrilled that God topped our dreams (God has a way of doing that) – with more kids (65), more helpers, more money for ZOE, more enthusiasm, than I think anyone dreamed we could have!”
Dedicated to Giving Hope – Raleigh, North Carolina
ZOE Mission Moments during Soapstone UMC’s VBS in Raleigh NC raised more than $950. Children offered special prayers and a dedication service for children in ZOE’s Giving Hope Project at the end of their week.