wfn.org | UMNS# 05010-One Great Hour of Sharing offering 'essential' to aid

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

One Great Hour of Sharing offering 'essential' to aid work, exec says

Jan. 6, 2005	 News media contact:   Tim  Tanton * (615) 7425470*
Nashville {05010}

NOTE: Related resources are available online at http://umns.umc.org.

By United Methodist News Service

As soon as news of the tsunami disaster in the Indian Ocean hit the
airwaves, the United Methodist Committee on Relief responded.

"Being there" is UMCOR's priority. On behalf of the United Methodist
Church, UMCOR provides relief wherever catastrophe strikes. Coordinating
efforts with faith-based partners around the world, the agency rushes to
disaster areas with aid such as food, clothing, shelter and medicine.
After immediate needs have been met, UMCOR stays to help survivors
rebuild.

As of Jan. 6, United Methodists had contributed more than $1 million in
online gifts to support relief for survivors of the Dec. 26 tsunami.
Money continues to pour in, and every dollar given to "South Asia
Emergency - UMCOR Advance 274305" goes directly to aid for the affected
region. The same is true for all other UMCOR Advance giving.

Such 100 percent giving is possible because UMCOR's administrative costs
come from other, undesignated sources, including the annual One Great
Hour of Sharing offering collected in local churches.

"The heartbreaking disaster that has devastated our sisters and brothers
in Asia and Africa underlines that the One Great Hour of Sharing
offering on March 6 is absolutely essential to UMCOR," said the Rev.
Paul Dirdak, the agency's chief executive.

"UMCOR receives no World Service funds or any other apportionments," he
said. "United Methodists' gifts to this special offering keep UMCOR's
delivery system in place so we can respond quickly and effectively to
disasters such as South Asia."

Gifts to One Great Hour of Sharing underwrite UMCOR's costs of doing
business. Gifts over and above those used to cover administrative costs
are channeled where they are most needed - to assist the most vulnerable
people whose need is greatest.

The administrative costs equal 2 percent of the relief agency's total
budget, according to UMCOR.

"Jesus promised to be with us always, 'to the very end of the age,'"
Dirdak continued. "Jesus extends this call to United Methodists to 'be
there' as well-to be the hands and heart of the church wherever people
are suffering. Gifts to One Great Hour of Sharing, channeled through
UMCOR, enable our great church to answer that call."

Information about UMCOR programs is available at www.umcor.org online.
One Great Hour of Sharing resources can be ordered by calling, toll
free, (888) 346-3862, or going online to www.UMCGiving.org/ss.

Donations to UMCOR's "South Asia Emergency" relief work can be placed in
local church offering plates or sent directly to UMCOR, 475 Riverside
Drive, Room 330, New York, NY 10115. Designate checks for UMCOR Advance
#274305 and "South Asia Emergency." Online donations can be made at
www.methodistrelief.org. For credit-card donations, call (800) 554-8583.

# # #

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

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