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Zimbabwe's problems pose 'deep concern,' missions chief says

Aug. 24, 2005

NOTE: Photographs and a map are available at http://umns.umc.org.

By United Methodist News Service

The United Methodist missions agency is trying to expand its
humanitarian work in Zimbabwe in response to the country's food crisis
and homelessness problem, the agency's top staff executive said.

"The current situation in the nation of Zimbabwe is of deep concern to
the United Methodist family and other Christian churches worldwide,"
said the Rev. R. Randy Day, chief executive of the United Methodist
Board of Global Ministries, in an Aug. 23 letter.

Addressing church members and ecumenical mission partners, Day responded
to questions the board is receiving about how it is responding to crises
in the sub-Saharan African country.

"A severe drought and food shortage have gripped the land for more than
two years," Day said. "More recently, hundreds of thousands of people -
perhaps a million - have been left homeless and jobless because of a
government program to tear down urban shelters and commercial stalls
considered illegal structures. We receive heart-rending stories of
families and children living in the open during the cold months."

The board has missionaries and mission volunteers working in Zimbabwe,
as well as church-related health care programs, humanitarian projects
and child-care ministries assisted by two of the board's units: the
United Methodist Committee on Relief and the Women's Division.

"One big concern is for the safety of the clergy and other leaders of
the Zimbabwean church," Day wrote. The board is guided in its public
witness by those leaders and has ongoing contact with them.

"We are working in faith and spiritual solidarity with the Zimbabwean
church to sustain the existing ministries of preaching and service," he
said. "We are attempting to expand humanitarian ministries in the light
of both the food crisis and the enormous number of homeless people."

UMCOR has spent $234,000 in humanitarian relief in Zimbabwe since
mid-2003, when the most recent food shortage began, and it has sent
$90,000 in assistance for the homeless so far this year. The board is
working to help the homeless through the ecumenical agency Action by
Churches Together International, and Christian Care, a Zimbabwe-based
relief partner "with major United Methodist involvement," Day said.
Money also has been provided to the Zimbabwe church for emergency needs,
he said.

"We face restrictions on what churches themselves can and cannot do in
response to the displaced people," Day said. "Many Zimbabwean
congregations do not have buildings that could serve as shelters, even
if this alternative were permitted."

International attention and action, along with the cooperation of the
Zimbabwean authorities and people, are needed, he said.

Day said United Methodists can help by:
"	Praying for the people and the church of Zimbabwe.
"	Assisting those who are hungry and homeless.
"	Monitoring social, economic and political developments in the
country.
"	Keeping "our hearts set on justice, mercy, and peace for our
Zimbabwean brothers and sisters."

People interested in contributing to relief efforts for Zimbabwe can
make contributions to "All Africa Famine Relief," Advance No. 101250, or
"Zimbabwe Emergency," Advance No. 199456, and drop them in local church
offering plates or send them directly to UMCOR at P.O. Box 9068, New
York, NY 10087-9068. Credit-card donations can be made at (800)
554-8583.

News media contact: Tim Tanton, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or
newsdesk@umcom.org.

********************

United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
http://umns.umc.org

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