wfn.org | Young people's ministries get 12 grants from agency

["NewsDesk" <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>]

April 14, 2003	News media contact: Kathy Gilbert7(615)742-54707Nashville,
Tenn.	10-31-71B{221}

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - Twelve projects addressing concerns of young people
will receive grants through programs related to the United Methodist Board of
Higher Education and Ministry.

The diverse projects include a ministry supporting military personnel and
their families in Fayetteville, N.C., and a program addressing the HIV/AIDS
epidemic in Liberian refugee camps. Eight new projects and four renewing
projects will share more than $120,000.  The grants were awarded from the
board's portion of the denomination's Shared Mission Focus on Young People
initiative.

"There are so many worthy projects," said the Rev. Lillian Smith, executive
with the board's campus ministry section and member of the funding team. Even
though some projects were not approved because of lack of funds, she said it
was rewarding "to help projects with seed money and to support new and
innovative ministries." 

The group examined 77 proposals from the current funding cycle, and 13
progress reports from 2002 projects.

The review team selected the following new projects for funding during the
2003 cycle:
7	Summer Internship and Vocational Reflection Curriculum for the Wesley
Foundation at the University of Virginia. 
7	Exploring Theological Education and Ministry for the San Antonio
United Methodist Campus Ministry. 
7	To Unite in Love and Action, benefiting young people in the North
Central Philippines Annual Conference Youth Organization.
7	Invitation into Servant Leadership in the North Katanga/West Ohio
Annual Conference Partnership. 
7	River's Edge at the University of Memphis' Wesley Foundation. 
7	The Theater Arts Program at Vanderbilt University's Wesley Foundation
in Nashville, Tenn. 
7	Frontline, a ministry supporting military personnel and their
families in Fayetteville, N.C. 
7	The Mission Internship Program, involving the Bishops' Initiative on
Children and Poverty, the Board of Ordained Ministry, and the Red Bird
Missionary and Kentucky Annual Conferences. 
	
	Because of their success last year the following projects were
recommended for continued funding for an additional year: 
7	The Liberian Refugees HIV/AIDS Prevention Program, a project that
provides training for young people in Sierra Leone and Liberia to educate
their peers and community about the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
7	The Residential Community for Vocational Discernment, which provides
a residential community for undergraduate students at the University of North
Carolina-Chapel Hill, who are seeking to discern God's call in their lives.
7	New Visions Summer Companies, which supports a team of college and
seminary students who receive intensive training in various Baltimore
communities, working with inner-city ministries.
7	Jericho Road/Uptown Thursday Night, which engage students in work
projects before or after they get involved in the local drug culture in
Richmond, Ky. Uptown Thursday Night interacts with students as they leave the
bars through a ministry of hospitality, prayer walks, and helping young
people connect knowledge and vital piety.

The total amount of funds projected for this year's cycle is $120,650, with
remaining money to be distributed during the 2004 cycle. 

# # #

*Information for this story was provided by Pamela Crosby, assistant editor
and writer for the Office of Interpretation, Board of Higher Education and
Ministry, Nashville, Tenn.

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United Methodist News Service
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