Kaltouma Zakaria Moussa installs a new mosquito net provided by the Nothing But Nets anti-malaria campaign at her home near Goz Beida, Chad. Nothing But Nets is Project #982015 of The Advance. Photo by Mike DuBose.

Celebrating 60 years
of giving hope

By Deborah White

A hungry boy wandering the streets of Lithuania finds food and comfort in a United Methodist church supported by The Advance for Christ and His Church.

A 20-year-old refugee turns his life around with help from the Center for Victims of Torture in Minneapolis, another project of The Advance.

In Mozambique, older women find shelter and sustenance in a retirement community funded by donations to The Advance.

These are just a few of many stories The Advance is sharing in 2008 as the designated-giving program of The United Methodist Church celebrates its 60th anniversary. Since its creation in 1948 amid post-war devastation, donations totaling more than $1.2 billion have supported missions and ministries around the globe.

The Advance is the "second-mile" giving channel for mission -- beyond congregations' share of apportionments -- and 100 percent of each gift goes directly to a designated project. Donors can choose from a wide variety of projects including disaster relief, supplementary support for missionaries, evangelism, church development and human services.

A girl in Manila, Philippines is surrounded by trash at the dump nicknamed "Smokey Mountain," where poor people look for goods to recycle. Smokey Mountain United Methodist Church, Project #11229A of The Advance, provides ministries in the area. Photo by Kathy Gilbert.

"Gifts -- large and small -- have built churches, dug wells, educated leaders, equipped schools and hospitals, fed and clothed children, planted trees, supported missionaries, rescued victims of wars and natural disasters and shared God's love," said Shawn Bakker, director of The Advance, in a letter introducing a new overview booklet about the giving program.

A highlight of this year's celebration will be a presentation to General Conference 2008 focusing on the profound impact that The Advance has on recipients -- and on donors. "We want to try to make it real for people," Bakker said. "The goal is to see it full circle, from donors to impact of the project."

The Advance's exhibit at General Conference includes new printed resources, demonstrations of the new Web site -- www.advancinghope.org -- and an international marketplace with items from areas served by The Advance. "We're really trying to engage people in the work of the church," Bakker said.

As it celebrates the strength of the past 60 years, The Advance is emphasizing communication and accountability.

A revised structure for The Advance replaces field offices in the five U.S. jurisdictions with direct links to annual conferences. "Instead of staff being focused regionally we have staff focused on various types of ministry and various messages," Bakker said.

In 2009-2012, all projects will be re-evaluated in a new selection process. Each project selected will have a profile page on the Web site and will submit annual reports.

Bakker said she wants The Advance to be more accessible for congregations so they can easily find a project to support. "I would encourage congregations to explore what is their ministry passion and then find a missionary or project that relates to that."

--Deborah White, associate editor, Interpreter and Interpreter OnLine

How to Give to The Advance

* Use the online "catalog" at www.advancinghope.org  to find projects.

* Write a check to your local church, including The Advance project name and code number on the check.

* Write a check to "Advance GCFA," including the project name and code number, and mail to: Advance GCFA, P.O. Box 9068, New York, NY 10087-6174.

* Call (888) 252-6174 to give by credit card.

* Give at www.advancinghope.org .

New Resources for The Advance

To help promote The Advance, these new resources will be available in May:

The Advance Overview Booklet summarizes The Advance's history and describes types of ministries supported.

Stories of Sharing Booklet includes project descriptions, photos and stories about changed lives.

The Advance Pocket Card lists types of ministries supported.

The Advance Bookmark depicts one of many ministries supported.

Beginning May 9, learn more about the resources at www.umcgiving.org  or by calling (888) 346-3862, faxing (615) 742-5499, or e-mailing csc@umcom.org.