Day 2: Children's Health and Wholeness

Through Children’s Health and Wholeness, the General Board of Global Ministries supports initiatives around the world that provide direct care for children, and initiatives that strive to transform communities so that children may live healthy and whole lives. Through education, networking, advocacy, and resourcing, Global Ministries supports congregations and communities around the world to respond to the needs and concerns of children, particularly children struggling with poverty, violence, abuse, exploitation, and other challenges.

Global Ministries supports feeding ministries, orphanages, literacy courses, clinics, and schools, providing children with food, shelter, health services, and education. Such ministries often provide safe spaces for children to be themselves, and opportunities for children to develop community with one another and with the leadership of the projects.  

Several projects accompany children in becoming active in mission in their own communities and in communities around the world. For example, many of our existing projects provide education for children in areas such as conflict transformation, self-expression, vocational skills, and human rights. Priority projects may involve providing a safe space for children to explore issues of physical and emotional health, while simultaneously developing an understanding of persistent health concerns of our global community, and of how they can be involved. Global Ministries has engaged children in peace education, encouraged youth to explore human rights through drama and the arts, and created opportunities in summer camps for cross-cultural dialogue.

Children, Poverty and Violence, Advance #14680A
Learn more at advancinghope.org

To make an additional donation to this project, click here

Quick Facts

• Global Ministries worked with new or “emerging” Methodist churches in 15 countries throughout Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Europe to develop Christian education materials for children, including: Lithuania, Mongolia, Cameroon, and El Salvador.

• In 2009, children in United Methodist churches learned about children’s projects in Mississippi, Wisconsin, Sudan, and Laos, and raised over $40,000 for mission through a joint program of Global Ministries and the General Board of Discipleship, called the “Children’s Fund for Christian Mission.”

• Children at Risk (Advance #14899A) provides children in Bella Union, one of the poorest cities in Uruguay, with food, health services, recreation, and an environment in which children can experience community and dignity.

• Through McCurdy School Student Financial and General Support (Advance #581479), funds are raised to give financial support to the McCurdy School to provide quality education to children in New Mexico.

Volunteer Information: For more information on how to volunteer, please contact your regional jurisdictional coordinator.

North Central: Lorna Jost
928 4th Street, Office #2, Brookings, SD 57006
Tel: 605-692-3390,

Northeastern: Gregory Forrester
32 North Church Street, Cortland, NY 13045
Tel: 607-756-7799,

South Central: Debbie Vest
15120 Sunningdale Street, Austin TX, 78717
Tel: 913-568-8826,

Southeastern: Paulette West
315 W. Ponce de Leon Ave, Suite 750, Decatur, GA 30030
Tel: 404-377-7424,

Western: Heather Wilson
11707 Terra Bella, Lakeview Terrace, CA 91342
Tel: 818-333-6730,