What a Relief!

Above: Mexican army soldiers break down their medical tent at Kelly AFB in San Antonio on Sept. 26 after a 20-day deployment to help hurricane victims. Below: The Mexican army's mobile kitchen served 170,000 meals in 20 days from a tractor-trailer setup. (Photos courtesy of the American Forces Information Services.)
A huge outpouring of love has provided monies to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina through our Bishops’ Famine and Relief Fund. To donate, go online to www.freemethodistchurch.org and click on the appropriate link in the right-hand column.

Bob Blair of Akron Cornerstone FMC created an awesome music video that brings the disaster home through startling photographs and lyrics that remind us of the hope available to the hurting through the message of the gospel. The video is available free for church and individual use. (Again, visit the FM Web site and click on the appropriate link.)

According to BBC News, as of Sept. 2, more than 44 foreign governments and international organizations had offered aid to Hurricane Katrina victims. Indonesia and Sri Lanka, recipients of U.S. aid after last year’s tsunami, were among the list of potential donors. Cuba and Venezuela put aside their differences with the Bush administration to offer assistance as well. Developing nations — including Guatemala, Honduras and Jamaica — often the recipients of U.S. aid, offered to become donors too.

As of Oct. 5, $175,000 had been raised through the Bishops' Famine and Relief Fund. Free Methodist individuals, churches and conferences nationwide are also assisting as they feel led.

Among the assistance pledged or promised:

  • Australia — $8 million to the American Red Cross
  • International Energy Agency (IEA) — based in Paris and representing 26 countries — agreed to release the equivalent of 2 million barrels of oil per day from emergency reserves to help the markets deal more effectively with the disruption caused by the hurricane.
  • Israel — medical teams available on 24-hour notice
  • Japan — $200,000 to the American Red Cross
  • Mexico — nearly 200 Mexican army soldiers set up camp for three weeks at Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX, administering medical and food relief. The Mexican Air Force and Navy also gave generously of their troops and resources.
  • Singapore — Chinook helicopters to help ferry supplies and undertake airlift missions
  • Sri Lanka — $25,000 to the American Red Cross
  • Venezuela — cheap fuel (subject to State Department approval)

As of Sept. 16, www.allafrica.com reported that world relief had come in to the U.S. from as many as 118 countries as well as the United Nations and 12 international organizations.

Wouldn't Wesley Be Proud?

A list of countries with gross national incomes (GNI, below) per capita of less than $500 — compiled by the World Bank in 2004 — includes a number of places where Free Methodist ministries today are actively combating physical and spiritual poverty. John Wesley’s passion for ministry to the poor and downtrodden has never been more widespread.

Click anywhere on the map below to see a larger version.

1) Afghanistan
2) Bangladesh
3) Burkina Faso
4) Burundi
5) Cambodia
6) Central African Republic
7) Chad
8) Democratic Republic
of Congo
9) Ethiopia
10) Eritrea
11) Gambia
12) Ghana
13) Guinea
14) Guinea-Bissau
15) Haiti
16) Kenya
17) Kyrgyz Republic
18) Lao People’s Democratic Republic
19) Liberia
20) Madagascar
21) Malawi

22) Mali
23) Mauritania
24) Mozambique
25) Myanmar (Burma)
26) Nepal
27) Niger
28) Nigeria
29) Rwanda
30) Sao Tome and Principé
31) Sierra Leone
32) Somalia
33) Tajikistan
34) Tanzania
35) Togo
36) Uganda
37) Uzbekistan
38) Zambia

* Free Methodism is present
in 70 countries, five of which
are creative access (places
closed to missionaries but
open to humanitarian or
community development work).

What's GNI?

Previously known as gross national product (GNP), gross national income (GNI) comprises the total value of goods and services produced within a country (i.e., its gross domestic product or GDP) together with its income received from other countries (notably interest and dividends), less similar payments made to other countries. For example, if a British-owned company operating in another country sends some of its income (profits) back to the United Kingdom (U.K.), the U.K.’s GNI is enhanced.

The DR Gets a New Bishop

Elias Samuel Peña Dominguez has been elected bishop of the Dominican Republic (DR) General Conference, having served as a pastor and superintendent for many years. He succeeds Bishop Teodoro Reynoso, and will oversee 15,608 members in 114 churches, a lay leadership training institute, a university-level seminary, the 20+ church-sponsored elementary and/or secondary schools, and the publishing of adult Sunday school materials.


Field Guide to Messianic Movement Available Now from Jews for Jesus

“Is it wrong to use Christian terminology like ‘cross’ when talking to Jews?”

“Do Messianic Jews see Christmas and Easter as pagan celebrations?”

“Should all Jewish believers in Jesus be part of a Messianic congregation?”

“How do I as a church member relate to this group — are Messianic Jews part of the body of Christ or of the Jewish religion?”

The Messianic Movement: A Field Guide for Evangelical Christians, a new 206-page book from Jews for Jesus (JFJ), examines these questions and more. 

Part One surveys various organizations operating under the “Messianic” umbrella. Part Two surveys general trends that cut across many Messianic organizations, such as the essential Jewishness of Christianity, the place of the Law in the life of Jewish believers, and the Torah-observant aspects of the movement. This comprehensive, helpful resource includes seven appendices and suggestions for further research. If you’ve ever needed help in “navigating” the Messianic movement, this new book provides a biblical context from which to do it. 

Jews for Jesus is the largest direct-evangelism agency working in the field of Jewish evangelism today. Under the leadership of David Brickner, Jews for Jesus has 230 staffers in 11 countries at 20 permanent branches. Jews for Jesus sees itself as an arm of the local church, reaching out to the Jewish community in its midst. Direct evangelism is its first priority, but JFJ also provides resources for local churches that want to minister to Jewish people. To learn more, visit www.jewsforjesus.org.

Our Bad

America ranks first when it comes to the number of fast-food restaurants per million people. And first in mortality due to obesity as well, with more deaths due to excess poundage than Mexico, Germany, Spain, Austria and Canada
combined. Could there be a connection?