Imagine losing your home, your community, your job, your school, and the lives of close family members and friends. Any one these events would create turmoil, yet refugee families are living with the reality of all of these at once. Church of the Resurrection works with a variety of partners to address the needs of refugees around the world.

Donations provide tangible relief and serve to remind recipients that there are people who care and are willing to sacrifice to help make their lives better.

Safe Spaces School

The Syrian civil war continues to create a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented scale. In Lebanon, the on-going crisis is sharply evident, as the small country is home to more than 1.5 million refugees, many of whom are school-aged children.

In partnership with the Church of the Resurrection, the Safe Spaces School in Saida, Lebanon held its grand opening on October 2, 2018, to serve more than 200 children — providing both educational and psycho-social support. Living up to its name, the school truly is a safe space where all are welcome and where a future with hope is made possible.

Learn more about Safe Spaces.

UNICEF

UNICEF is on the front lines of many crises around the world, serving its most vulnerable children. Church of the Resurrection donates funds to help in their efforts to provide education, health care, clean water and nutritional support to refugee children and families.

Learn more about UNICEF.

“It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that the son of a mine worker can become the head of the mine, that a child of farm workers can become the president of a great nation. It is what we make out of what we have, not what we are given, that separates one person from another.” - Nelson Mandela

Church of the Resurrection believes strongly in the power of education. Nelson Mandela stated, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” The best tool to defeat future poverty is to equip the next generation to learn and lead. This is why we at Resurrection believe in supporting children & schools here in Kansas City and around the world.

Change the trajectory of a child’s life by supporting them at one of our global partner schools - Learn more about global partner school sponsorship opportunities.

Honduras - Juan Wesley School

Public school conditions in Honduras are often poor, and in the town of Ciudad España, only go through the 9th grade. Low education and lack of jobs often leaves youth with two choices: to join a gang, or to leave the country and their family to look for work.

Through our partnership with Cristo Resucitado Methodist church in Ciudad España, the Juan Wesley Methodist K-12 school was completed in 2015 to offer a quality, private, faith-based education to the community and surrounding towns.

South Africa - Ditshego House of Laughter

In 2014, Church of the Resurrection began a partnership with the Ditshego House of Laughter. This is a non-profit organization providing multiple services for approximately 350 vulnerable children in the informal settlement of Mooiplaas, South Africa. More than 16,000 people make their home in Mooiplaas at the base of a landfill in the area between Johannesburg and Pretoria (now Tshwane).

Among Ditshego’s services are a preschool, an Open School for older children, a House of Safety for foster children, and after-school services. Without Ditshego these children would not have a chance for an education because many are undocumented or immigrants.

Church of the Resurrection provides opportunities for serve trip members to work with students, teachers and staff to deliver requested lesson plans, provide training and participate in light renovation projects at the school. Church members can also provide scholarships for students to attend the school and receive services.

Malawi - Malawi United Methodist Church Preschools

Early childhood education is necessary because children are very receptive to learning in their early years. For many people, there are no funds available for Early Child Education and no money for nutritious meals. At the MUMC Preschools they try to serve the most vulnerable families in each of their communities with Early Childhood Education from Monday thru Friday, nutritious porridge, safe care while parents are at work, and school supplies.

Application Deadline: June 9, 2021

Destination: Madisi, Malawi (Africa)

Contact/Ministry Connector: Sheree Reece

Purpose - Economic Empowerment and Agriculture

Come and share your gifts and talents by providing educational opportunities to families through agricultural, business training and entrepreneurial education. Learn about the life transformation stories happening through CCODE. Experience the hospitality of local Malawian villages. Be the ministry of presence in the “Warm Heart of Africa.”

Resurrection has been partnering with the Malawi United Methodist Church (Malawi UMC) since 2010. Resurrection also partners with the Madisi local church, and the Malawi Center for Community Organization and Development (CCODE) for training village savings and loan groups and empowerment based on available local resources.

Are you willing to walk alongside and share hope with our brothers and sisters in Malawi? Ages 16 & up are welcome!

COST

Total anticipated cost: $3900-$4500

• $1250 trip fee includes lodging, food and ground transportation in Malawi. A visa is required to enter Malawi. The additional $150 expense is not included in the trip fee.
• A deposit of $1000 is required after your application is accepted.
• $2500-3000 airfare per person. Resurrection will arrange the flight logistics so that the team is on the same flight.
• You can earn a $100 discount by submitting your application and paying your deposit before April 8, 2020.
• Optional: To expand your experience, you have the opportunity to extend your stay with a safari and cultural experience. Cost and experience TBD. Expenses related to cultural and safari experiences are not tax-deductible.

Since payments received are considered for refund, please consult your tax professional to determine the tax deductibility of the trip related expenses.

If you can no longer go on the trip, Resurrection will issue a refund for any payments made less expenses incurred by the church on your behalf up to 60 days prior to the trip departure date. If you can cancel your trip between 31-59 days prior to departure, you may receive up to a 50% refund dependent on expenses incurred on your behalf by Church of the Resurrection. If you cancel your trip 30 days or less from the departure date, you will receive no refund of any payments made. If the trip is cancelled by Resurrection, you will receive a refund of payments made.

Important Dates

• Early Application Deadline: April 7, 2021
• Application Deadline: June 9, 2021
• Community Team Prep: TBD

To Apply

• Fill out the International Serve Trip Application
• After you receive your acceptance email from Global Impact Ministries, your trip deposit of $1000 is due immediately. You can pay online through Managed Missions. If you prefer to pay by check, please make it payable to Church of the Resurrection and include the trip code MWI 211007 in the memo line. Mail to: Church of the Resurrection, Attn: Finance/for GIM, 13720 Roe Ave., Leawood, KS 66224.
• Complete the Safe Gatherings online training (for adults and youth age 16 or older).
• Make sure your passport is valid. Make sure it expires at least six months after the trip’s scheduled return date, and that it has at least two (2) blank consecutive visa pages at all times of travel.

Accommodations

In Madisi Parsonage with the pastor and his family; the accommodations are bunk beds with separate sleeping quarters for men and women; OR at the Linde Motel in Mponela, double occupancy rooms with two twin beds and private bath (separate sleeping quarters for men and women).

Additional Details

Open to adults and youth ages 16 and older if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Trip Status: OPEN
Contact: Bill McClave
Destination: Ciudad España, Honduras
Purpose - Bless the School

This team partners with the Juan Wesley School in Ciudad España to help students develop English language skills by playing games, acting out scenarios, and focusing on pronunciation. Volunteers will also “Bless the School” with a little school upkeep in the afternoons. Team members who sponsor a student at the school will have the chance to meet their student.

You do NOT need to be a teacher or speak Spanish to join this team, but we are hoping to recruit a few teachers and if you speak Spanish, great!

Cost

Total anticipated cost = $1800-2000

• $1025 trip fee (includes lodging, meals, in-country transportation, translators, and any material used in country).
• A deposit of $500 is required
• $800-1000 airfare per person. (Resurrection will arrange the flight logistics so that the team can fly together).
• You can earn a $100 discount by submitting your application and $500 deposit before December 5, 2020.

Since payments received are considered for refund, please consult your tax professional to determine the tax deductibility of the trip related expenses.

If you can no longer go on the trip, Resurrection will issue a refund for any payments made less expenses incurred by the church on your behalf up to 60 days prior to the trip departure date. If you can cancel your trip between 31-59 days prior to departure, you may receive up to a 50% refund dependent on expenses incurred on your behalf by Church of the Resurrection. If you cancel your trip 30 days or less from the departure date, you will receive no refund of any payments made. If the trip is cancelled by Resurrection, you will receive a refund of payments made.

Important Dates

• Early Application Deadline: December 5, 2020
  
• Application Deadline: February 6, 2021
• Community Team Prep: TBD

To Apply

• After you receive your acceptance email from Global Impact Ministries, your trip deposit of $500 is due immediately to reserve your spot. Make check payable to Church of the Resurrection and include the trip code HON 210605 in the memo line. Mail to: Church of the Resurrection, Attn: Finance/for GIM, 13720 Roe Ave., Leawood, KS 66224.
• Complete Safe Gatherings online training (for all adults and youth ages 16 and older).
• Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months after the trip’s scheduled return date; make sure that it has at least two (2) blank consecutive visa pages at all times of travel.

Accommodations

Honduras Mission House in Tegucigalpa; the accommodations are bunk beds with separate sleeping quarters for men and women.

Additional Details

Open to adults and children ages 14 and older if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Trip Status: OPEN

Contact: Bob Webb

Destination: Ciudad España, Honduras

Purpose - Bless the School

This team partners with the Juan Wesley School in Ciudad España to help students develop English language skills by playing games, acting out scenarios, and focusing on pronunciation. Volunteers will also “Bless the School” with a little school upkeep in the afternoons. Team members who sponsor a student at the school will have the chance to meet their student.

You do NOT need to be a teacher or speak Spanish to join this team, but we are hoping to recruit a few teachers and if you speak Spanish, great!

Cost

Total anticipated cost = $1800-2000

• $950 trip fee (includes lodging, meals, in-country transportation, translators, and any material used in country).
• A deposit of $500 is required
• $800-1000 airfare per person. (Resurrection will arrange the flight logistics so that the team can fly together).
• You can earn a $100 discount by submitting your application and $500 deposit before January 10, 2021.

Since payments received are considered for refund, please consult your tax professional to determine the tax deductibility of the trip related expenses.

If you can no longer go on the trip, Resurrection will issue a refund for any payments made less expenses incurred by the church on your behalf up to 60 days prior to the trip departure date. If you can cancel your trip between 31-59 days prior to departure, you may receive up to a 50% refund dependent on expenses incurred on your behalf by Church of the Resurrection. If you cancel your trip 30 days or less from the departure date, you will receive no refund of any payments made. If the trip is cancelled by Resurrection, you will receive a refund of payments made.

Important Dates

• Early Application Deadline: January 10, 2021
• Application Deadline: March 12, 2021
• Community Team Prep: TBD

To Apply

• Fill out the International Serve Trip Application.
• After you receive your acceptance email from Global Impact Ministries, your trip deposit of $500 is due immediately to reserve your spot. Make check payable to Church of the Resurrection and include the trip code HON 210710 in the memo line. Mail to: Church of the Resurrection, Attn: Finance/for GIM, 13720 Roe Ave., Leawood, KS 66224.
• Complete Safe Gatherings online training (for all adults and youth ages 16 and older).
• Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months after the trip’s scheduled return date; make sure that it has at least two (2) blank consecutive visa pages at all times of travel.

Accommodations

Honduras Mission House in Tegucigalpa; the accommodations are bunk beds with separate sleeping quarters for men and women.

Additional Details

Open to adults and children ages 14 and older if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Destination: Hatillo, Puerto Rico

Contact/Ministry Connectors: Rod and Sharon Hennig

Purpose - Disaster Response

On September 20th, 2017, Hurricane Maria pummeled the island of Puerto Rico. The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection mobilized quickly to help with immediate needs, including sending money, food and disaster response serve trips.

The most important skills for this trip are a desire to serve God while working side-by-side with Puerto Ricans; to be a team player; and to be flexible for whatever comes our way. Most likely we will be working on light construction alongside our partners from the Samuel Culpeper Methodist Church. You don’t have to know Spanish or construction: you just need a big heart and willingness to serve.

Cost

Total anticipated cost = $1200-$1400

• $800 trip fee (includes lodging, meals, in-country transportation, translators, and any material used in country).
• A deposit of $300 is required after your application is accepted.
• Approximately $400-600 airfare per person. (Resurrection will arrange the flight logistics so that the team is on the same flight.)
• You can earn a $100 discount by submitting your application and paying your $300 deposit before March 11, 2021.

Since payments received are considered for refund, please consult your tax professional to determine the tax deductibility of the trip related expenses.

If you can no longer go on the trip, Resurrection will issue a refund for any payments made less expenses incurred by the church on your behalf up to 60 days prior to the trip departure date. If you can cancel your trip between 31-59 days prior to departure, you may receive up to a 50% refund dependent on expenses incurred on your behalf by Church of the Resurrection. If you cancel your trip 30 days or less from the departure date, you will receive no refund of any payments made. If the trip is cancelled by Resurrection, you will receive a refund of payments made.

Important Dates

• Early Application Deadline: March 25, 2021
• Application Deadline: May 28, 2021
• Community Team Prep: TBD

To Apply

• Fill out the Puerto Rico Serve Trip Application Form.
• After you receive your acceptance email from Global Impact Ministries, your trip deposit of $300 is due immediately to reserve your spot. Online payments are available through your Managed Missions profile, or by check payable to Church of the Resurrection (include the trip code PRO210925 in the memo line). Mail to: Church of the Resurrection, Attn: Finance/for GIM, 13720 Roe Ave., Leawood, KS 66224.
• Complete the Safe Gatherings online training (for adults and youth age 16 or older).
• Team members under the age of 21 must have their parents/guardian complete a notarized Parental Consent Form.
• Upon approval for the trip please plan on submitting a copy of your driver’s license.

Accommodations

Team members are accommodated at the Methodist Arecibo Campsite, approximately 20 miles from the Hatillo Samuel Culpeper Church. Accommodations are dorm style (separate rooms for men and women), with bunk beds and private bath.

Additional Details

The minimum age for Puerto Rico serve trips is 16 with parent or guardian. Team members under the age of 21 must have their parents/guardian complete a notarized Parental Consent Form.

Destination: Hatillo, Puerto Rico

Contact/Ministry Connectors: Rod and Sharon Hennig

Purpose - Disaster Response

On September 20th, 2017, Hurricane Maria pummeled the island of Puerto Rico. The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection mobilized quickly to help with immediate needs, including sending money, food and disaster response serve trips.

The most important skills for this trip are a desire to serve God while working side-by-side with Puerto Ricans; to be a team player; and to be flexible for whatever comes our way. Most likely we will be working on light construction alongside our partners from the Samuel Culpeper Methodist Church. You don’t have to know Spanish or construction: you just need a big heart and willingness to serve.

Cost

Total anticipated cost = $1200-$1400

• $800 trip fee (includes lodging, meals, in-country transportation, translators, and any material used in country).
• A deposit of $300 is required after your application is accepted.
• Approximately $400-600 airfare per person. (Resurrection will arrange the flight logistics so that the team is on the same flight.)
• You can earn a $100 discount by submitting your application and paying your $300 deposit before December 19, 2020.

Since payments received are considered for refund, please consult your tax professional to determine the tax deductibility of the trip related expenses.

If you can no longer go on the trip, Resurrection will issue a refund for any payments made less expenses incurred by the church on your behalf up to 60 days prior to the trip departure date. If you can cancel your trip between 31-59 days prior to departure, you may receive up to a 50% refund dependent on expenses incurred on your behalf by Church of the Resurrection. If you cancel your trip 30 days or less from the departure date, you will receive no refund of any payments made. If the trip is cancelled by Resurrection, you will receive a refund of payments made.

Important Dates

• Early Application Deadline: December 19, 2020.
• Application Deadline: February 19, 2021
• Community Team Prep: TBD

To Apply

• Fill out the Puerto Rico Serve Trip Application Form.
• After you receive your acceptance email from Global Impact Ministries, your trip deposit of $300 is due immediately to reserve your spot. Online payments are available through your Managed Missions profile, or by check payable to Church of the Resurrection (include the trip code PRO 210619 in the memo line). Mail to: Church of the Resurrection, Attn: Finance/for GIM, 13720 Roe Ave., Leawood, KS 66224.
• Complete the Safe Gatherings online training (for adults and youth age 16 or older).
• Team members under the age of 21 must have their parents/guardian complete a notarized Parental Consent Form.
• Upon approval for the trip please plan on submitting a copy of your driver’s license.

Accommodations

Team members are accommodated at the Methodist Arecibo Campsite, approximately 20 miles from the Hatillo Samuel Culpeper Church. Accommodations are dorm style (separate rooms for men and women), with bunk beds and private bath.

Additional Details

The minimum age for Puerto Rico serve trips is 16 with parent or guardian. Team members under the age of 21 must have their parents/guardian complete a notarized Parental Consent Form.

Trip Status: OPEN

Destination: Hatillo, Puerto Rico

Contact/Ministry Connectors: Rod and Sharon Hennig

Purpose - Disaster Response

On September 20th, 2017, Hurricane Maria pummeled the island of Puerto Rico. The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection mobilized quickly to help with immediate needs, including sending money, food and disaster response serve trips.

The most important skills for this trip are a desire to serve God while working side-by-side with Puerto Ricans; to be a team player; and to be flexible for whatever comes our way. Most likely we will be working on light construction alongside our partners from the Samuel Culpeper Methodist Church. You don’t have to know Spanish or construction: you just need a big heart and willingness to serve.

Cost

Total anticipated cost = $1200-$1400

• $800 trip fee (includes lodging, meals, in-country transportation, translators, and any material used in country).
• A deposit of $300 is required after your application is accepted.
• Approximately $400-600 airfare per person. (Resurrection will arrange the flight logistics so that the team is on the same flight.)
• You can earn a $100 discount by submitting your application and paying your $300 deposit before April 16, 2021.

Since payments received are considered for refund, please consult your tax professional to determine the tax deductibility of the trip related expenses.

If you can no longer go on the trip, Resurrection will issue a refund for any payments made less expenses incurred by the church on your behalf up to 60 days prior to the trip departure date. If you can cancel your trip between 31-59 days prior to departure, you may receive up to a 50% refund dependent on expenses incurred on your behalf by Church of the Resurrection. If you cancel your trip 30 days or less from the departure date, you will receive no refund of any payments made. If the trip is cancelled by Resurrection, you will receive a refund of payments made.

Important Dates

• Early Application Deadline: April 16, 2021
• Application Deadline: June 18, 2021
• Community Team Prep: TBD

To Apply

• Fill out the Puerto Rico Serve Trip Application
• After you receive your acceptance email from Global Impact Ministries, your trip deposit of $300 is due immediately to reserve your spot. Online payments are available through your Managed Missions profile, or by check payable to Church of the Resurrection (include the trip code PRO 211016 in the memo line). Mail to: Church of the Resurrection, Attn: Finance/for GIM, 13720 Roe Ave., Leawood, KS 66224.
• Complete the Safe Gatherings online training (for adults and youth age 16 or older).
• Team members under the age of 21 must have their parents/guardian complete a notarized Parental Consent Form.
• Upon approval for the trip please plan on submitting a copy of your driver’s license.

Accommodations

Team members are accommodated at the Methodist Arecibo Campsite, approximately 20 miles from the Hatillo Samuel Culpeper Church. Accommodations are dorm style (separate rooms for men and women), with bunk beds and private bath.

Additional Details

The minimum age for Puerto Rico serve trips is 16 with parent or guardian. Team members under the age of 21 must have their parents/guardian complete a notarized Parental Consent Form.

Destination: Hatillo, Puerto Rico

Contact/Ministry Connectors: Rod and Sharon Hennig

Purpose - Disaster Response

On September 20th, 2017, Hurricane Maria pummeled the island of Puerto Rico. The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection mobilized quickly to help with immediate needs, including sending money, food and disaster response serve trips.

The most important skills for this trip are a desire to serve God while working side-by-side with Puerto Ricans; to be a team player; and to be flexible for whatever comes our way. Most likely we will be working on light construction alongside our partners from the Samuel Culpeper Methodist Church. You don’t have to know Spanish or construction: you just need a big heart and willingness to serve.

Cost

Total anticipated cost = $1200-$1400

• $800 trip fee (includes lodging, meals, in-country transportation, translators, and any material used in country).
• A deposit of $300 is required after your application is accepted.
• Approximately $400-600 airfare per person. (Resurrection will arrange the flight logistics so that the team is on the same flight.)
• You can earn a $100 discount by submitting your application and paying your $300 deposit before February 7, 2021.

Since payments received are considered for refund, please consult your tax professional to determine the tax deductibility of the trip related expenses.

If you can no longer go on the trip, Resurrection will issue a refund for any payments made less expenses incurred by the church on your behalf up to 60 days prior to the trip departure date. If you can cancel your trip between 31-59 days prior to departure, you may receive up to a 50% refund dependent on expenses incurred on your behalf by Church of the Resurrection. If you cancel your trip 30 days or less from the departure date, you will receive no refund of any payments made. If the trip is cancelled by Resurrection, you will receive a refund of payments made.

Important Dates

• Early Application Deadline: February 7,2021
• Application Deadline: April 9, 2021
• Community Team Prep: TBD

To Apply

• Fill out the Puerto Rico Serve Trip Application Form.
• After you receive your acceptance email from Global Impact Ministries, your trip deposit of $300 is due immediately to reserve your spot. Online payments are available through your Managed Missions profile, or by check payable to Church of the Resurrection (include the trip code PRO 210807 in the memo line). Mail to: Church of the Resurrection, Attn: Finance/for GIM, 13720 Roe Ave., Leawood, KS 66224.
• Complete the Safe Gatherings online training (for adults and youth age 16 or older).
• Team members under the age of 21 must have their parents/guardian complete a notarized Parental Consent Form.
• Upon approval for the trip please plan on submitting a copy of your driver’s license.

Accommodations

Team members are accommodated at the Methodist Arecibo Campsite, approximately 20 miles from the Hatillo Samuel Culpeper Church. Accommodations are dorm style (separate rooms for men and women), with bunk beds and private bath.

Additional Details

The minimum age for Puerto Rico serve trips is 16 with parent or guardian. Team members under the age of 21 must have their parents/guardian complete a notarized Parental Consent Form.

Join us for a morning of service #withKC out in the community! Invite family and friends to this intro to missions with RezDowntown. Plug in with our partner school or another education ministry, our construction ministry, or with one of our other Serve partners around KC and internationally. (Covid precautions in place.)

Email Pastor Patrick.McLaughlin@cor.org with questions, or if you plan to bring a group.

Click here for a list of our Serve partners. Pastor Patrick would be happy to connect you with an organization directly if you're interested in volunteering with your family, small group, or on your own!

Shopping and eating locally means more of your money stays in the community, providing jobs and improving the economy. It can also mean a reduction in the environmental impact, compared to larger chain stores and restaurants. Here are some tips for shopping and eating locally:

Buy locally grown and produced food: Buying local is better for you, the environment, and the local economy. The average piece of produce in the U.S. travels 1,500 miles, while local food may only travel 100 miles (or less). When local farmers are well compensated they are less likely to sell their land to developers. This helps preserve green space that can draw down harmful carbon and reduce flooding. Farmers markets throughout the KC Metro area are open from spring to fall.

Patronize local restaurants that partner with local growers:  Look for local restaurants that offer “farm to table” cuisine.  You’ll support a local business while reducing the impact on the environment due to storing and transporting.

Look for items that are made locally, or Made in America: Local businesses typically consume less land and locate closer to residents than big chains. This means there is more green space to absorb heavy rains and less air pollution. In addition to providing more jobs, local companies provide a unique selection of products not available anywhere else. Buying from a local retailer also keeps 4 times the amount of money in the local economy compared to chains.

Join a CSA program: Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) creates a partnership between you and the farmer. Subscription plans allow you to become a shareholder of a local farm, and in return you enjoy a weekly share of food directly from the farm.

100% local Christmas: Commit to buying 100% of your Christmas presents locally. Supporting local vendors and shops improves the economy, supplies local jobs and lessens the impact on the environment caused by large chain stores, and you get to give unique and thoughtful gifts

Resources:

Why Buy Local Food?

Local Farm to Table Restaurants

Local Farmers and CSAs - Kansas City Food Circle

Cultivate KC

Made in KC - Explore

#ShopLocalKC

Made in America

KC Public School partnerships

• Church of the Resurrection partners with eight local elementary schools to help improve lifelong outcomes for students. A full description of opportunities and steps to get involved are available at our Partner Schools Ministry page.
• RezDowntown partners specifically with two schools and our members are encouraged to participate here to build community along fellow RezDowntown participants.
• Information on our two schools
  • Wendell Phillips Elementary
    • Located at 2400 Prospect Ave. KCMO (view website)
    • For more information on serving at Wendell Phillips, contact Sally Smith!
    • See all opportunities to serve here.
  • East High School
    • Located at 1924 Van Brunt Ave, KCMO (view website)
    • For more information on serving at East High School, contact Pastor Patrick.McLaughlin@cor.org.

2021 Trips

• Disaster Response: June 19-26
• Disaster Response: August 7-14
• Disaster Response: September 25-October 2
• Disaster Response: October 16-23

To learn more about what previous trips looked like, visit our blog.

About Our Puerto Rico Disaster Response

Puerto Rico is often referred to as the “Island of Enchantment,” a direct result of the warm people, excellent cuisine, and picturesque scenery, including the most beautiful beaches. Paradise is what the local people call it, as they get to see and live into GOD’s creation and beauty every single day.

On September 20th, 2017, Hurricane Maria (a category 4 hurricane) pummeled the island of Puerto Rico. The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection mobilized quickly to help with immediate needs. After contacting the Bishop’s office of the Methodist Church in Puerto Rico to determine the best way forward, Church of the Resurrection sent $10,000 for emergency supplies, and partnered with Heart to Heart International in sending an additional $20,000 worth of food and supplies.

The Methodist Church of Puerto Rico also immediately responded to the call to action, developing a culture of lay and clergy Early Response teams, implementing a Brigade of Hope (food, solar lights and water hand delivered to homes) and partnering with other local denominations, non-government organizations (NGOs) and FEMA to help those in need.

In January, a small leadership team from Church of the Resurrection went to Puerto Rico to walk alongside the Bishop Hector Ortiz Vidal and his team and see first-hand the devastation left in the wake of this natural disaster. The team learned staggering statistics about the situation on the island, including:

• 250,000 homes damaged
• 100,000 completely destroyed
• 40 Methodist Churches damaged
• 10 Methodist Churches destroyed
• Several hundred thousand left the island for the mainland

Bishop Hector Ortiz Vidal recommended that Church of the Resurrection partner with a local church in Puerto Rico. We are happy to share that Samuel Culpeper Iglesia Metodista in Hatillo has been selected for this partnership.

There are 235 public schools across the island that are slated to permanently close the fall of 2018, including Joaquin Rodriguez, Samuel Culpeper's church partner school. The Methodist Church in Puerto Rico will be enhancing social programs to assist those families with children who are no longer able to attend school. The remaining funds collected from the Special Offering for Puerto Rico held last fall have been allocated to the reconstruction of the church roof, a priority from the bishop’s office, enabling them to provide help to all those in need.

Resurrection teams have already been deployed and have worked alongside our Puerto Rican brothers and sisters repairing the church roof, repairing local homes, and assisting with painting and clean up. Returned team members have shared that the experience has made a dramatic impact on their lives, and the hospitality is unmatched and inspiring.

Consider joining a team today, your life will never be the same. It is said that one’s treasures are most valuable when they are those of the Kingdom of GOD. Where does your treasure lay?

Frequently Asked Questions about Puerto Rico Serve Trips:

Who can go?
Just about anyone! Individuals, couples, families, retired persons, members of Church of the Resurrection and non-members alike. The minimum age is 16, and all trip participants must complete the Safe Gatherings online course. Team members under the age of 21 must have their parents/guardian complete a notarized Parental Consent Form.

What skills do I need?
The most important skills are a desire to serve God while working side-by-side with Puerto Ricans; to be a team player; and to be flexible for whatever comes our way. You don’t have to know Spanish (you will certainly learn a few new words and key phrases) or construction: you just need a big heart and willingness to serve.

What projects will we work on?
We strive to work on projects that are deemed of most importance to our local partners, but most likely we will be working on light construction alongside our partners from the Samuel Culpeper Methodist Church.

What does the cost cover?
The cost per person includes housing, meals, in-country transportation, insurance, gasoline, construction costs, local labor, cultural day activity and food, donation to the local trip administration. Airfare will be booked after the trip has closed and will be added to your total trip cost.

What’s not included?
Personal expenses, souvenirs, extended travel past the official trip conclusion.

Are there any discounts?

Yes! There are two ways to receive a $100 discount (they cannot be combined!): apply before the Early Application deadline; OR be a repeat Global Impact Ministries Resurrection serve trip participant.

How do I get to San Juan, Puerto Rico?
Global Impact Ministries will reserve airline tickets so that the team travels together. Your airfare is tax-deductible and will be added to your total trip cost in our online team portal, Managed Missions.

Where do we stay?

Team members stay at the Arecibo Methodist Campsite. Approximately 1.15 hours west of San Juan, where the team will be spending the week. The campsite has 4 bunk rooms with 9 bunkbeds each (separated by gender), private indoor bathroom facility, a large indoor dining pavilion, Chapel, Garden of Gethsemene, and much more.

Will we get to see the beach?
If all goes as planned, yes! Both Hatillo and Aresibo are located on the Northwest side of the island minutes from the Atlantic Ocean. On our last day (Saturday), and on our return to the San Juan area, we will travel to El Morro and Old San Juan, a beautiful destination rich in history, beautiful landscape, restaurants and much more. Afterwards we will head to the airport to head home.

Is Puerto Rico safe?
Puerto Rico is safe, as with any tourist destination, there are cases of petty crime and driving can be a challenge. Generally, outside the capital of San Juan, the country resembles a clean, tropical, laid-back place.

I have some questions that aren’t listed here.
Please feel free to send an email to Rod & Sharon Hennig - rhennig12@gmail.com. Rod & Sharon are our context leaders that oversee our partnership with Puerto Rico.

For questions about the serve partners below, contact Pastor Patrick.McLaughlin@cor.org!

If you've just served with us, please click here to answer a few quick questions about your experience. (1 minute time commitment)

Serve Locations

• Adelante Thrift: 3720 State Ave, Kansas City, KS(view website)
• Amethyst Place: 2735A Troost KCMO 64109 (view website)
• Community LINC: 4012-14 Troost St KCMO 64110 (view website)
• Connections to Success: 300 West Linwood Blvd, KCMO 64111 (view website)
• Della Lamb: 500 Woodland Ave KCMO (view website)
• Don Bosco Center: 580 Campbell KCMO 64106 (view website)
• East High School: 1924 Van Brunt Ave, KCMO (view website)
• Giving HopeKC: 6640 State street in Kansas City, KS 66102 (view website)
• Happy Bottoms: 303 W. 79th Street, Kansas City, MO 64114 (view website)
• Healing House: 4600 Saint John KCMO 64123 (view website)
• Hillcrest Transitional Living: 738 N. 31st St., KCKS (view website)
• Hope Faith Homeless Assistance Campus: 705 Virginia Ave., KCMO 64106 (view website)
• ShelterKC Men's Shelter & Recovery Services: 1520 Cherry St. KCMO (view website
  • To serve at ShelterKC, please fill out this quick application.
• ShelterKC Women's Shelter & Recovery Services: Park in Lot at Prospect & Peery (view website)
  • To serve at ShelterKC, please fill out this quick application.
• Lazarus Ministries: Linwood United Church, 3151 Olive St, KCMO 64109 (view website)
• Metro Early Learning Center: 3827 Troost Ave Kansas City, MO 64109 (website)
• Metro Lutheran Ministries: 3031 Holmes St., KCMO 64109 (view website)
• Newhouse: Address not listed for the safety of residents (view website)
• The Micah Ministry (Mondays): 606 Gladstone Blvd, KCMO 64124 (view website)
• Neighbor 2 Neighbor: 3551 Wabash Ave, Kansas City, MO 64109 (view website)
• Operation Breakthrough: 3039 Troost Ave., KCMO 64109 (view website)
• The Reading Nook (1st & 3rd Saturdays): 1903 Hardesty Ave., KCMO (for more info on tutoring, click here)
• Reconciliation Services: 3101 Troost Ave KCMO 64109 (view website)
• reStart, Inc.: 918 E. 9th St, KCMO 64106 (view website)
• Rose Brooks Center: Address not listed for the safety of residents (view website)
• Sheffield Place: 6604 E. 12th St. KCMO 64126 (view website)
• St. Mark Early Education Center: 2008 E. 12th St., KCMO 64127 (view website)
• Student Farm at Gibbs Rd: 4223 Gibbs Rd., KCKS (view website)
• Synergy Services: 2001 NE Parvin Rd, KCMO 64116 (view website)
• United Prayer Movement: 340 David L. Gray Dr. Kansas City, KS 66101 (website)
• UpLift: 1516 Prospect Ave., KCMO 64127 (view website)
• Urban Christian Academy: 4328 Jackson Ave KCMO 64130 (view website)
• Wendell Phillips Elementary: 2400 Prospect Ave. KCMO (view website)

Compassion International is a holistic Christian child development ministry dedicated to addressing the needs of children around the world. Compassion focuses on the real life needs of children – spiritual, physical, financial and social – by partnering with local churches in 26 developing countries. Resurrection partners specifically with a center in Petit Goave, Haiti. If you are interested in sponsoring a child (and perhaps visiting them on a future serve trip), visit the Compassion website to sponsor.

Compassion works through local churches to provide child development programs to enable them to become responsible, fulfilled Christian adults. When you sponsor a Compassion child, you will give them hope by giving them access to an education, medical care, supplementary food, and the chance to learn about Jesus and the Gospel in a safe Christian environment. You will send and receive letters from your child; building a relationship with the child and watch them grow and learn. The hope you give them will last a lifetime. Your monthly contribution, letters, and prayers will mean the world to your child. To sponsor a child, click here.

If you sponsor a child, you also have the opportunity to become an advocate with Compassion International. These dedicated individuals are trained by Compassion International to initiate activities to change lives through Compassion, staff sign-up tables at Compassion events, and engage in training and enrichment opportunities.

To learn more about sponsorship, joining Resurrection's Compassion Team, volunteering at special events, becoming a child advocate, or joining the Compassion prayer team, email Jane Long at mjanelong@aol.com.

Public school conditions in Honduras are often poor. Low education and lack of jobs often leaves youth with two choices: to join a gang, or to leave the country and their family to look for work. Through the partnership with the Methodist church in Ciudad España, the Juan Wesley school was opened in 2014. The mission of the school is to break the chain of poverty by offering a quality, private, faith-based education through university graduation.

Sponsor support at the school not only encourages students to stay in school to complete their education but also helps build the body of Christ in Honduras. Students are able to take advantage of their education, skills, certificates, and degrees to transform their own lives, the lives of their families, build hope and faith in the community, and encourage others by their example to do the same. Many family members have even come to faith through the program. Your support makes all the difference in the world to the students at Juan Wesley.

Sponsorship Types

• Class sponsorships cover the remaining costs of a Juan Wesley teacher, overhead and support materials needed to run a classroom. Class supporters receive newsletters containing information about their supported teacher(s), student pictures, and current happenings at the school. Class sponsors are invited, without obligation, to write words of encouragement to their teacher and class at designated times twice a year.
• Student sponsorships (Not available at this time) – Juan Wesley student sponsorships cover the cost of tuition, books, materials and uniforms for eligible students in pre-school through 12^th grade. University student sponsorships cover a portion of the cost of enrollment, transportation (or internet for online classes), books and materials. Student sponsorships are limited in number. Students are vetted and monitored to assure they qualify for the program and achieve the program’s academic goals. Families of the sponsored students are required to attend a monthly church service and sponsor program meeting, as well as participate in family serve days. Juan Wesley and university student supporters can expect to correspond with their student at designated times twice a year.

Supporter Levels (All contributions are tax-deductible)

• Classic Supporter –$39.50/month or $474/year per sponsorship. A Classic Supporter can be either an individual or a team/small group whose donation covers 80% of the average to educate one student at Juan Wesley.
• Premium Supporter – $47.50/month or $570/year per sponsorship. A Premium Supporter can be either an individual or a team/small group whose donation covers the full average cost to educate one student at Juan Wesley.

Sponsors have the opportunity to meet and interact with the teachers and students and support the school when they join a mission team traveling to Honduras. Check our Honduras page for scheduled trips.

Two ways to sign up to sponsor

• Donate monthly, annually or one time online
• Donate one time or annually by check and mail-in form and use the “print” function on your browser to print and follow the mail-in instructions on the form.

Now more than ever families who are struggling can use a little extra help to meet their children's needs.

Even though children from most of our ongoing school partners are not meeting in person, we are working with their schools and the district to deliver the Backpacks for Hunger bags filled with non-perishable food for the weekend.

Join a small group of people on Wednesday afternoons at the Leawood campus for a 90-minute shift and help organize the food and participate in the filling of over 1,000 bags of food that will be delivered to seven schools across the city.

Safety precautions are in place, including reducing the number of volunteers serving at one time, raising the age requirement for participation, requiring face masks and asking screening questions.

If you are able to be on your feet and active for 90 minutes please join us. Those taking part in set up should be able to lift 10-15 lbs. Learn more and register here.

Other ways to serve:

• Backpack Angel: Resurrection’s Backpacks for Hunger Ministry helps alleviate this issue by providing nutritious, child-friendly food to over 1,500 students a week. Students who participate in the program receive a bag with items such as cereal, a box of shelf stable milk, cup of fruit, can of soup and other non-perishable food that is easily prepared. You can provide food for a student for a year for $225, or $25/month. For more information contact Roberta Lyle at roberta.lyle@cor.org.

• Deliver Backpacks: Fridays 8am -12pm to Elementary Schools. Requires heavy lifting and possibly driving the church's box truck. Contact Bruce Gaddis at deliveryteam@cor.org

• Pick-up Empty Tubs: Tuesdays 7am -1pm from Elementary Schools. Requires moderate lifting and possibly driving the church's box truck. Contact Bruce Gaddis at deliveryteam@cor.org
  

• Do a Peanut Butter Drive: Peanut butter is a great source of non-perishable protein that can be used for quick meals, so families receive a small jar of peanut butter every month in addition to the usual food. Collect donations of non-glass, 14-16 oz containers of peanut butter. Please do not provide larger jars as these make the bags too heavy for some of the smaller kids and our delivery team. This is a great way to support this ministry and help struggling families at times when kids don’t have access to school meals. Contact Roberta Lyle for more information - roberta.lyle@cor.org.

• Pray for the Children: Each week as they receive the supplemental weekend food.

All activities take place at Resurrection Leawood Campus, Building A, Lower Level Mission Space.

You can find out more about our local community advocates and partners at these websites.

Kansas

Foster Care Agencies - Resource families in Kansas must be licensed through one of these agencies. All of these agencies sponsor MAPP trainings, a free 10-week course required for foster parents and/or foster-to-adopt parents in Kansas.

• KVC
• Ember Hope
• DCCCA
• St. Francis
• Children’s Alliance: This is a very helpful website for on-line trainings that are required to maintain your license and other support for KS foster parents. There are also links to all of the KS Foster Care Agencies
• Kansas Foster and Adoptive Parent Association: This is a foster parent support group. They also operate a resource center where foster parents can pick up clothing and other items needed for their kiddos
• Kansas Gear Up: Gear Up offers educational support including scholarship opportunities for Kansas foster kids. It is run via Wichita State University, but their scholarship can be used at any State-sponsored post-secondary educational school (i.e. tech schools, community colleges, and 4-year colleges in Kansas)

Information on children available for adoption in Kansas is available at www.adoptkskids.org.

Missouri

Missouri is not privatized like Kansas. Children are placed directly from the State of Missouri Division of Family Services, which provides general information on the foster care and adoption process in Missouri.

• Midwest Foster Care and Adoption Association (MFCAA): This organization is a great resource for Missouri foster parents in regards to the MO-required training program STARS and information on fostering in Missouri. They also offer metro-wide foster parent support for KS and MO foster parents, including a resource center for clothing.
• Cornerstones of Care: This organization in Kansas City, MO is an umbrella organization that provides an array of preventive, treatment, and support services for children and their families. Their partner agencies include the Gillis, Marillac, Ozanam, and Spofford group homes as well as the Healthy Families program.
• Ozanam: Residential treatment program for boys and girls 12 to 18. They also offer other services as indicated on their website.
• Gillis: An Intensive Residential Treatment program at Gillis offers safety, healing and trauma-informed treatment to boys ages 5 to 18 who need more intensive supports and supervision. This short-term residential program provides individualized treatment plans - including therapy, psychiatric care and recreational activities - to ensure each boy receives the healing and skills he needs to be successful in his long-term community placement.
• YES Program: The YES (Youth Educational Success) Program is part of healthy families. The goal of this program is to help foster youth in MO attend college. The YES program is seeking mentors and tutors for the youth – more information can be found on their webpage
• Crittenton Children’s Center: Crittenton Children's Center offers a range of services including psychiatric hospital programs for young children and adolescents, and residential treatment for adolescent girls and boys. They also offer foster care and adoption services.
• Synergy Services: Synergy provides a full continuum of care to assist individuals and families with immediate respite from violence, and services which empower clients to find and choose good options for future safety and success. They provide supportive services to families in crisis in an effort to prevent violence. Their programs include crisis hotlines, emergency shelter, transitional housing, therapeutic services, advocacy, mentoring and violence prevention programs throughout Greater Kansas City.
• Stepping Stones: Kansas City Steppingstone is a transitional living program working with young people ages 16-21 that helps them transition safely and successfully into independence. The program is based on positive youth development strategies and provides housing, employment services, education counseling, life skills training, and permanency planning. Part of the Steppingstone program is safe, stable housing accommodations in either campus or community apartments. Steppingstone offers life skills training to help youth find work, with the end goal being self-sufficiency. The program helps youth create an education and career plan, develop work readiness skills, learn how to apply for jobs, dress for interviews, etc.

Mentoring and Child Advocate Opportunities

• YOUThrive: YOUTHRIVE is a new nonprofit organization that is focused on empowering and supporting our foster youth as they transition to adulthood. The organization was established in July 2015 after the founding team and its community partners agreed that the best opportunity for sustainable and scalable impact was to form a new organization that is intently focused on meeting the wants and needs of this specific population of young people. Their vision is to see all youth become adults that thrive in their community. They are currently recruiting Support Families.
• YES Program: Mentor kids in the YES Program or tutor them with their schoolwork.
• Gillis Boys Home: A Child’s Hope Be-a-Mentor program works with boys at the Gillis Home. Penny Zadeh is the contact for our Be-a-Mentor program pzadeh1@gmail.com.
• CASA, Court-appointed Special Advocate, is an individual appointed by the judge who serves as an advocate for the youth throughout their time in foster care. This is an important role that can far outlast the foster care worker or foster care home for the youth in terms of consistency. CASA is always looking for more volunteers – if you would like to make a positive impact in a child’s life, this is a great way to do that.
• Jackson County CASA
• CASA of Johnson and Wyandotte Counties

Other Resources:

• Family Conservancy: Resource for summer camp info and childcare providers who take the DCF reimbursement
• Kansas City YMCA: The YMCA offers summer day camp and after-school programs at selected schools that is covered by the DCF childcare stipend

Using Psalm 4:8 as the guiding mission, the Beds Program provides new beds to children who don’t have beds of their own in Kansas City urban and suburban communities. Our purpose is to recognize and address the physical need for sleep, thus providing a sense of comfort, rest and peace. Through this coordinated demonstration of God’s love and provision, we will bring smiles and comfort to children and families. Our focus is to serve the children referred by Resurrection's partner school districts and specific mission partners.

Upcoming Serving Opportunities:

Beds Pick-up Parties:

Volunteers are needed to load/unload mattresses, greet participants and assist them in picking up linens and pajamas. This is a great serving opportunity for the whole family-appropriate for children 7 and older when accompanied by an adult. Please note this event takes place outside-dress accordingly!

• April 26, 2020 - Wheatley Elementary School - 1:00-3:00pm
• May 3, 2020 - Wheatley Elementary School - 1:00-3:00pm

Other Serve Opportunities:

Host a Linen Drive

Host a linen drive in your school, workplace, or neighborhood! New twin linens will be provided to school aged children who receive beds through the Program. If you need more information on the Program for your drive, please contact bedsforeverybody@gmail.com.

Slat Support Construction

Have access to free or inexpensive lumber? We are always looking for lumber to build our slat support structure. This structure is used in place of a box spring.

Sponsor a Bed

Don’t let a Kansas City child sleep on the floor tonight. Consider sponsoring a bed!

• $95 for a new twin bed (mattress, mattress pad, slat support and metal frame)
• $40 for a new set of linens
• $135 for a twin bed and all the linens!

Contact bedsforeverybody@gmail.com with questions.

Please visit the Beds Ministry Donations page for more information about how to support this ministry with donations.

I will both lie down and sleep in peace; for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety. -Psalm 4:8

Our Hunger Stopper team works in many different ways to help put a stop to hunger in Kansas City. Check out these ways you can get involved year-round:

FOOD DRIVES

We hold two large food drives during the year which are a great way for individuals, families and groups to get involved. The need for serving our pantries continues throughout the year.

“Thanks to the generosity of our congregation the Sack Hunger Food Drive saw an increase of 513.33% in increase in monetary donations over last year! WOW! We are so excited about our ability to creatively address food insecurity in the KC area by leveraging our partnerships with Harvesters, Associated Grocers as well as community/neighborhood initiatives near our campuses and partner schools. Rather than just dropping a pallet of what we have, we are able to provide true NEEDS in the community because of your support. We are thrilled to move strongly into 2020 ready to make an impact!”

SORTING TEAM

How You Can Serve: Help sort, check and box donated food items to prepare them to be delivered to local pantries. This is a fun service project for small groups, individuals or families.

• Where: Resurrection Mission Center, 15455 Metcalf Avenue. Click here for driving directions.
• Contact: Brenda Stuteville for questions at brendastuteville@att.net

Requirements: Volunteers must be 10 and older (accompanied by a parent), or 16 and older (unaccompanied).

DELIVER TO FOOD PANTRIES

How You Can Serve: 8-10 volunteers are needed for each delivery shift to help rearrange boxes onto pallets to prepare orders for delivery, load the truck and deliver food to local pantries.

• When: Deliveries take place one Wednesday morning each month.
• Where: Meet at Resurrection Mission Center at 15455 Metcalf Avenue 8am. Click here for driving directions.

Contact: Michelle Van Pelt at michelle.vanpelt@cor.org.

Requirements: Volunteers must be 16 and older, and able to repeatedly lift heavy boxes (up to 40 lbs).

BE A HUNGER STOPPER

You can fight hunger in Kansas City year-round, by making a monthly commitment to be a Hunger Stopper! Hunger happens every day of the year!

• Donate Dollars: Support the Hunger Ministry through monetary donations in any amount and we'll purchase needed food in bulk (our donations go a lot farther!). Mark your check in the memo line "Hunger Stoppers" and drop it in the offering plate or mail to the church.
  • How much should I donate? Here is a general guideline of how far your money can go to feeding an average family of 4 when we purchase in bulk:
    • $28 feeds them for a week
    • $120 feeds them for a month
    • $1,460 feeds them for a year
• As a Hunger Stopper you can receive a monthly email with specific suggestions of what to donate or how to serve each month. Sign up to receive Hunger Stopper Newsletter today (Select "Resurrection Leawood" and then scroll down to Leawood Connect and Serve Newsletters and select "Hunger Stopper Food Donations")!

PANTRIES WE SERVE:

Click here for the full list.

For more information about Hunger Donations please contact Michelle Van Pelt at michelle.vanpelt@cor.org

Resurrection partners with many organizations, in the U.S. and around the world, to provide educational opportunity, clean water, access to health care, and more to those in need. 

Honduran Coffee

Through Church of the Resurrection's partnership with the Methodist Church of Honduras, we have Honduran coffee available for purchase at The Spring, our coffee shop located in the Narthex of Building B on the Leawood Campus.

When you buy a bag of Honduran Coffee at The Spring, you transform communities by::

• Helping Hondurans gain economic stability
• Supporting the first Methodist School in Honduras
• Raising awareness for our partnership activities in Honduras

The coffee is Rainforest Alliance Certified, and is produced using the principles of sustainable agriculture and best management practices, conservation of natural resources, ecosystems and wildlife, worker's rights and benefits, and positive impact on the local community.

• Coffee grown in the shade of the forest canopy protects the plants from the rain and sun, helps maintain the soil quality and reduces need for insect control because a greater number of natural wildlife live in the habitat.
• Due to increasing demand for coffee, traditional farms have converted to sun growth plantations where the tropical forest is cut down which produces a higher yield for the short-term, but also greater soil erosion and pesticide use.

Honduras School Sponsorship Program - Juan Wesley School

Change Lives Through Education:

• For just $39.50/month ($474/year) you can provide a child with a private faith-based school education to a child in Honduras. This amount will provide tuition, books and materials and a school uniform for your sponsored child. Your child will be able to write to you each year to tell you about their progress, and they will be monitored to assure that they achieve the school's academic goals.
• Child sponsors have opportunities to meet the child they sponsor,  interact with the students and support the school when they join a short-term serve team traveling to Honduras. Check our Serve Trip Calendar for this year's opportunities.

Click here to learn more and sign up to sponsor a child.

Compassion International

Compassion International is a holistic Christian child development ministry dedicated to addressing the needs of children around the world. Compassion focuses on the real life needs of children – spiritual, physical, financial and social – by partnering with local churches in 26 developing countries.

Compassion works through local churches to provide child development programs to enable them to become responsible, fulfilled Christian adults. When you sponsor a Compassion child, you will give them hope by giving them access to an education, medical care, supplementary food, and the chance to learn about Jesus and the Gospel in a safe Christian environment. You will send and receive letters from your child; building a relationship with the child and watch them grow and learn. The hope you give them will last a lifetime. Your monthly contribution, letters, and prayers will mean the world to your child. To sponsor a child, click here. 

If you sponsor a child, you also have the opportunity to become an advocate with Compassion International. These dedicated individuals are trained by Compassion International to initiate activities to change lives through Compassion, staff sign-up tables at Compassion events, and engage in training and enrichment opportunities.

To learn more about sponsorship, joining Resurrection's Compassion Team, volunteering at special events, becoming a child advocate, or joining the Compassion prayer team, email Jane Long at mjanelong@aol.com. For more information, visit www.compassion.com. 

ZOE

The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection partners with ZOE, a three-year program developed in Africa that empowers orphans and vulnerable children around the world to overcome extreme poverty, become fully self-reliant, and learn of God’s love for them. ZOE is currently active in Kenya, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Liberia, Guatemala and India.

ZOE’s indigenous program facilitators ensure children know about their rights, are free from abuse and exploitation, and can find a safe place to live. Children learn skills such as farming and animal husbandry at monthly meetings. ZOE then provides tools, seeds and farm animals to the children so they can grow and raise their own food.

Learn more at ZOE Helps.

Water 4

The shortage of clean water claims more than 3 million lives every year; nearly 5,000 children die every day from water-related illnesses. Malnutrition and inadequate hygiene contribute to the illnesses and deaths; and women and girls are often denied access to education and economic opportunities because they must spend hours of each day fetching water. In many places, it’s not because there is no available source of water – it’s because there is no simple way to reach it.

Water4 partners with local communities around the world, training men and women to drill wells and install water pumps, creating ongoing human resources with the knowledge and skills to sustain lives, agriculture, and economic empowerment in their own countries.

Learn more at www.water4.org.

Heart to Heart

Heart to Heart International, based in Lenexa, works to strengthen communities around the world by providing access to health care and providing humanitarian relief during times of crisis. Providing preventive care, emergency response, and medical treatment in crises such as the recent Ebola outbreaks in Africa, Heart to Heart works to improve global access to health.

Learn more at www.hearttoheart.org.

Learn more about our global and domestic partnerships, and be part of our long-term strategic planning - volunteer to serve as a leadership team member. Opportunities are available for Haiti, Honduras, Malawi, South Africa, Steering Committee, Trip Preparation and Training, United States Serve Trips and the Water Advisory Board. This volunteer position requires attendance at four (quarterly) meetings during the year, and additional participation in context-specific planning and special events is expected. We ask for a commitment of at least two years.

Our RezDT Construction ministry is looking for volunteers of all skill levels and from all of our campuses. This ministry meets the first & third Saturdays of each month to help families and Serve Saturday partners that have a little more advanced and time consuming needs then they can address on their own. We partner with Christmas in October on many of the homes.  For info email rezdtconstruction@cor.org.

The Church of the Resurrection is working to empower Malawians to give them a fighting chance for a future with HOPE. How are we making this happen? Through the Methodist Church, we partner to provide opportunities for abundant life, address basic needs, develop self-sustaining economic empowerment, offer health education and medical rehabilitation. Resurrection also works with our partners to support opportunities for spiritual formation and pastoral leadership, early childhood education, and life skills training. To learn more, visit our blog.

2021 Trips

• Malawi Virtual Serve Trip: March 21 - 26
• Malawi Community Garden & Education Serve Trip: July 8-20, 2021
• Medical Serve Trip: August 19-31, 2021
  
• Malawi Economic Empowerment and Agriculture Serve Trip - October 7-19, 2021

About the Malawi United Methodist Church

On January 1, 2009, the Malawi United Methodist Church celebrated their status as the new Missionary Conference of the United Methodist Church. Their status reflects the dedication, sacrifices and prayers of Malawian pastors and laity who have planted and nurtured this young church over the past two decades. They grew from a handful of churches to a thriving conference of 22 circuits and more than 140 churches, based on the passion and commitment of John Wesley to preach the Good News. They work to serve those in the most rural villages, hoping to set Malawi on fire for Christ.

Rev. Daniel Mhone, the Church's District Superintendent, supervises 24 pastors appointed in largely rural circuits where 85 percent of the church members survive day-to-day as subsistence farmers.The 22 circuits of the Malawi UMC are each served by one pastor who is responsible for 3 to 20 local churches within a 150-300 square mile region. The pastors work tirelessly as advocates for vital infrastructure in the communities where they serve, such as borehole wells that can provide clean drinking water for families as well as water for washing and irrigation for gardens.

Our Partnership with ZOE
The Church of the Resurrection partners with ZOE, a three-year program developed in Africa that empowers orphans and vulnerable children around the world to overcome extreme poverty, become fully self-reliant, and learn of God’s love for them. ZOE is currently active in Kenya, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Liberia, Guatemala and India.

ZOE’s indigenous program facilitators ensure children know about their rights, are free from abuse and exploitation, and can find a safe place to live. Children learn skills such as farming and animal husbandry at monthly meetings. ZOE then provides tools, seeds and farm animals to the children so they can grow and raise their own food.

Learn more at http://www.zoehelps.org

About Malawi

Malawi is a landlocked country of 10.5 million people, most of whom live in rural areas east of Zambia, west of Mozambique and south of Tanzania. Like Zimbabwe, it was colonized by English-speaking Europeans in the 1800s. Malawi gained its independence from Great Britain in 1964, and became a democratic republic in 1994. Lilongwe is its capital city. The annual per capita income is $800. Some 80 percent of the population is Christian, 55 percent of whom are Protestant.

In our partnership with Haiti, Resurrection has focused on sustainable efforts that include community-based preventive health care training programs. We continue to work with the Methodist Church in Haiti to serve those most directly affected by the devastation of recent hurricanes. While we have tentatively planned itineraries for each of our trips, those plans will change according to our partner's assessment of the most critical needs of the people of Haiti.

In addition to serving the health care needs of the people of Haiti, we also built computer labs in schools, strengthened Internet connections in our partner churches and worked with Compassion International to enrich the lives of Haitian children. Learn more about our Compassion partnership in Haiti here or to sponsor a child at the Petit Goave Center in Haiti, you can sign up here and then visit them on a future serve trip. To learn more about how we are supporting Haiti, visit our blog.

2021 Trips

• Virtual Serve Trip: February 22-26, 2021
• Construction Serve Trip: May 24-31, 2021

Prayer Guide

We have a prayer guide available to remind you to pray for the people of Haiti. Download it and print it out and place it somewhere you will see it each day.

About Haiti

To learn more about our empowerment efforts in Haiti and Resurrection's partnership with the Eglise Metodiste d Haiti, check out this video from our volunteer context leader, Rudy Ehrenberg.

Haiti, the poorest nation in the Americas, is located southeast of Cuba on the island of Hispaniola, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. About 8 million people live there, in an area just slightly larger than the state of Vermont. Most of the population speaks Haitian Creole, a French-based language with Spanish, Portuguese and African influences. Not only does Haiti have a history of political and economic instability, the recent geographic catastrophes such as the 2010 earthquake and terrible hurricanes in 2008 and 2016 have damaged much of the country's arable land, leaving the Haitian people unable to grow enough food to sustain themselves. Also, the weather damage has wiped out homes and destroyed sources of clean water, leaving thousands of people homeless, hungry and vulnerable to disease.

Explore the many opportunities available for partnering with Hondurans to transform their communities. Each trip has a purpose, some of which are listed below:

• Bless the School — Light construction and painting to keep the school in good condition.
• Bless the Youth — Engage with youth in sports activities and develop meaningful friendships.
• Bless the Teachers — Be a part of equipping teachers with resources and lessons to teach English and the Word of God. Teaching English creates bonds between people of different cultures and is life-changing for both.
• Medical and Dental – Provide needed care for the community.
• Cultural immersion – In addition to engaging with teachers and students, each trip includes time to explore.

2021 Trips:

• Virtual Serve Trip: February 15-19, 2021
• Men's Serve Trip: April 17-24, 2021
• Bless the School: June 5-12, 2021
• Bless the School: July 10-17, 2021

School Sponsorship

Sponsor a student or class to help break the chain of poverty through education in Ciudad Espana.

Public school conditions in Honduras are often poor. Low education and lack of jobs often leaves youth with two choices: to join a gang, or to leave the country and their family to look for work. Through the partnership with the Methodist church in Ciudad España, the Juan Wesley school was opened in 2014. The mission of the school is to break the chain of poverty by offering a quality, private, faith-based education through university graduation.

Resurrection created a sponsorship program to address three barriers to achieving this mission.

To learn about other ways Resurrection is partnering with Hondurans, visit our blog.

About Honduras

Honduras, located in Central America between Guatemala and Nicaragua, is a country of mountains, forests and farms. There are more than 7 million people living in this country, which is about the size of Louisiana. Most Hondurans speak Spanish, although the Amerindian/mestizo population may speak other Spanish dialects. English is widely spoken in the north. Resurrection teams usually fly into the capital city of Tegucigalpa, and some take a day to visit the Maya ruins at Copán, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Honduras is one of the poorest regions in Central America; its economy is primarily agricultural and the annual per capital income is about $2,500 USD.

Resurrection partners with the Methodist Church in Honduras, working mostly with the Methodist Church in El Obraje and the Cristo Resucitado Methodist Church in Ciudad España.