Area Foundation provides gifts throughout year for education, outreach

INDIANAPOLIS - The Indiana Area Foundation of The United Methodist Church, under the leadership of the Rev. James Gentry, executive director, so far this year has given $17,645 to individuals and institutions for education.

From these grants, six students will benefit from educational grants. These include Ed Fisher, a former businessman now attending Christian Theological Seminary; Anthony Stone, also a student at CTS; Kimberly Bloom of Mishawaka, a student at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Ill., now serving Clay UMC in South Bend; Essie Machamire, a student from Zimbabwe, attending Martin University in Indianapolis; plus two scholarship students from Liberia and Sierra Leone to attend African University in Zimbabwe.

The Foundation also gave outreach grants to other recipients, including:

Brandon's House Counseling Center in New Albany, to help fund a Christian-based parent support/education group.
Beds & Britches, Inc., a Christian-based program in Columbia City, Ind., serving Whitley County, that provides incentives for pregnant women to follow through with appropriate prenatal care as well as preventative care for their infants and small children by encouraging a healthier lifestyle.
Abundant Harvest UMC in Indianapolis, to help fund their Family Education Program which serves 30 families throughout the year.
The Asian Help Services aids Asians who are new to Indianapolis overcome language and cultural barriers while they are in transition, assimilating to their newly adopted homeland. This agency serves more than 400 people each year.
The Rev. Dr. Gwendolyn Roberts, director of Metro Ministries, received a grant enabling her to join a work team to Brumskine School in Buchanan, Liberia, as part of Operation Classroom.
College Connection Campus Ministry at Ball State University provides leadership development opportunities, spiritual retreats and ministry-inquiry events as well as preaching and other leadership opportunities in local Muncie-area churches.
The South Indiana Conference Cabinet received a grant to help defray funeral costs for clergy support in a time of special need.

In addition to the student grants, the Foundation also gave funds to:

Pastors-Helping-Pastors in Louisiana $ 70,488.
Seashore District Volunteer Center 162,336.
Bishop Leroy Hodapp Memorial Fund 8,932.
Operation Classroom 12,191.
Operation Doctor 35,865.
African Students 10,167.

The Indiana Area Foundation also is coordinating a major gift to enable ordinand travel in February 2007 to the Holy Land with Bishop Mike Coyner.

The Indiana Area Foundation is a mission-oriented foundation to serve Indiana Area United Methodist churches and individuals to reach out in the name of Jesus Christ.

To share in the Foundation's missional sharing or to provide for its ongoing operational expenses, contact the Rev. James Gentry, executive director, at 317-924-1321 or by e-mail at jgentry@inareaumc.org, or call the Indiana Area Foundation of The United Methodist Church, 317-924-1322 for further information.

Last updated on 25 Apr 2008

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