Site
Contents
 |
General Information about the Area Office
North Indiana Conference Office
South Indiana Conference Office
Prayer Guides
(Courtesy of the NIC Prayer Team)
Area United Methodist
Foundation
For resources to assist your congregation in welcoming guests,
click here
Seashore District Volunteer Center VIM project -- Completed
Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
| Hoosier United Methodists together |
January 2004 |
Welcome:
Neglected children need to be our first priority
Children and their well being were central to Jesus' ministry and need to be central to our church's ministry in Indiana, too.
Last year the number of children who died while in the state's care dropped from 71 to 51 children. We celebrate the decrease, but 51 children dying is still 51 too many.
On January 21, 2003, 8-year-old Mark Adrian Norris was found dead in his burning Elmwood home. Officials later found out that he was dead before the fired started. He had pneumonia was malnourished neglected by both parents and the state. In 2002, four-year-old Anthony Bars was beaten and starved to death in the foster care of a man with a criminal record that included battering his daughter. WHY?
There are 1,300 United Methodist congregations in Indiana giving us the opportunity to provide 1,300 safe havens for children in need. Through our congregations, we can provide volunteer resources in after-school programs, Sunday schools, quality day care facilities, children's choirs, sports programs, well baby clinics, parish nurses, free meals, and winter coats to mention a few.
When, we, as United Methodists, know of a child in need, we are called by God to provide for that child's need. We also can provide for Indiana's children through support of the Bishops Initiative to Children in Poverty.
In this inaugural issue of Hoosier United Methodists Together newspaper, you will find numerous articles on children in need and United Methodist ministries to them. The Indiana United Methodists Children's Home is featured. Read about our ministries in Liberia to school-aged children and Operation Classroom's support there. Read about a youth and young adults ministry to Mexico and the decline in smoking and alcohol among Hoosier's teens. (Table of Contents for Jan. issue)
We, at Together, also would like to hear from you and your congregation and what you are doing to minister to youth and children in our communities across the state.
As Hoosier United Methodists, let us not forget Mark, Anthony and the 120 other children who have died from neglect and abuse in this state during the last couple of years. As vigilant citizens, let us prevent the death of neglected children and provide for their well being through the General Assembly and the passing of protective laws, through state government and higher quality foster care and through caring ministries in our congregations to children's ministries in our communities and across the world.
Grace and peace,
Daniel R. Gangler, editor
Last updated on 02/09/2004