Missions & Outreach

Through its conference, district and congregational initiatives, the Eastern PA Conference is involved in mission and outreach locally, regionally and worldwide. United Methodists promise to support the church with our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness. Thus, we are present in all these important ways wherever there is need–physical or spiritual–offering our minds, hearts, hands, feet and voices to foster healing, hope and wholeness in the name of Jesus Christ.

Our local churches–individually and through their districts and mission connections–reach out with funds, volunteers, donated materials, advocacy, promotion and always prayer. And the conference promotes mission outreach and partnership especially with friends in Central Congo, Tanzania and other global areas, along with helping agencies in local communities. We are also renewing our mission efforts to eradicate a deadly, global disease through our involvement in the denomination’s Imagine No Malaria campaign.

We invite all to join our efforts, and we urge Eastern PA churches to tell Communications what they are doing in mission and outreach, so we can tell others through the pages of this Website.

Conference Advance Specials Conference Advance Specials is a missional stewardship program of second-mile giving by generous churches, groups and individuals to support primarily local ministries.  Churches that want to give to support Conference Advance Specials should first fulfill their primary connectional stewardship commitments to the conference and general church by remitting apportioned funds and direct bill payments. 2019-2020 Advance Specials The list of programs and ministries, as approved by 2018 Annual Conference, designated as a list of Conference Advance Specials for the year July 1, 2019 through  June 30, 2020. Continue Advance Special Application Dear pastors, project coordinators, and mission leaders of Eastern Pennsylvania, On behalf of the Conference Global Ministries team, I thank you for the ministries you are involved in. We trust that you had a great year of serving the Lord and his people. Now is the time to submit applications for approval as an Eastern Pennsylvania Conference Advance Special for the coming year.  Applications are needed now so that the advance special resolution can be prepared for 2020 Annual Conference.  Please fill out the enclosed application form and return it electronically to me at bedrake15@aol.com. This year the deadline is March 12, 2020. Thank you for your consideration and help. Peace, Deaconess Barbara Drake Conference Secretary of Global Ministries. bedrake15@aol.com 610-446-1394 Download the application

Board of Global Ministries Barbara Drake Eastern PA Conference Secretary of Global Ministries bedrake15@aol.com Volunteers in Mission Rev. Russell Atkinson Eastern PA Conference UMVIM Coordinator ratkinson@epaumc.org

LUMINA Lancaster United Methodist Inner-City Alliance, also known as LUMINA, exists to offer impoverished residents of Lancaster County the light of hope. We encourage children and youth through education and building Christian character. We empower families through life-skills education and equip those in need with basic necessities and proper clothing for work and school.   We are a cooperative mission project of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of The United Methodist church, based in the West District and affiliated with the Conference Office of Connectional Ministries.  We currently partner with a number of supportive United Methodist churches, located primarily in Lancaster County, PA.  Please visit our website: luminaoutreach.org Location: 20 E. Clay Street, Lancaster, PA 17602 Phone: 717-394-8412 Fax: 717-394-1435 Office Hours: Tues – Thurs, 9 AM – 5 PM General Inquiries: office@luminaoutreach.org Look us up on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LUMINA.Outreach Please see our most recent newsletter and two special announcements to learn more about:  School uniform clothing drive for Pearl Street Clothing Bank. Download the information flyer. LUMINA Italian Night Fundraiser Dinner (with bocce and Sinatra). Download the information flyer. HOLD on donations for Professional Clothing until April. See Newsletter. Prison Lunch Ministry help needed. See Newsletter. New Transportation Ministry – van update. See Newsletter. Correen Russo Executive Director Correen.lumina@gmail.com Melissa Artz Administrative Assistant Melissa.lumina@gmail.com

United Methodist Neighborhood Services United Methodist Neighborhood Services (UMNS), supported by the Eastern PA Conference United Methodist Women’s Trust, operates under the management of its Board of Directors and Managing Director Millicent Clark. It is affiliated with the  Eastern PA Conference Office of Connectional Ministries and receives support from volunteers and donors, churches of the Eastern PA Conference, community organizations and nonprofit agencies. UMNS continues to be a vital part of its community by providing food, clothing and resources to those in need. The agency strives to aid individuals and families. Since December 2016, UMNS has been located at Janes Memorial UMC in Germantown, which, along with First UMC of Germantown, plays an important role in the mission institution’s efforts to offer essential support to its community. Learn more… Location Address: 47 E. Haines Street, Thelma Nichols Building at Janes Memorial UMC, Philadelphia, PA 19144 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 3477, Philadelphia,, PA 19122 Telephone #: 215-236-0304Fax #: 215-236-8618 Email: neighborhoodservices76@gmail.com Visit UMNS webpage Mr. Carl Boyd Vice-Chair, UM Neighborhood Services cpboyd60308@comcast.net Mr. Andrew Smith President, UM Neighborhood Services andrew.reginald@hotmail.com Photo from the 2018 UMW Gathering. Pictured from left to right: Barbara Sveen, UMNS Board Member; Andrew Smith, President of UMNS; Susan Dziuks, UMNS Board Member and President of EPC UMW; and Millicent Clark, UMNS Volunteer.

The Body of Christ at Work in Beverly, Kentucky

By Bishop Peggy A. Johnson

“For the body does not consist of one member but of many.” I Corinthians 12:14

The week of August 11-17, 2019, was probably the most diverse week ever recorded at the United Methodist Red Bird Mission Work Camp, in Beverly, Kentucky.  Onto that campus came a group of about 75 Christians from many places, representing many forms of diversity.  Read more….

Download the Bishop’s PPT presentation about the Red Bird Mission trip.

Congo Partnership

Partners in Mission through Christ

As an outgrowth of our Hope for the Children of Africa connection to the Central Congo Area, a Partnership was established the Central Congo Episcopal Area and now three US Annual Conferences: Peninsula-Delaware, W. North Carolina, and Eastern Pennsylvania. To learn more about the amazing things God is doing through the Congo Partnership, visit Congo-Mission.org for more information and updates!

You Can Make a Difference!

Pray for the Partnership and its outreach and share our stories giving others an opportunity to respond!

Remember, 100% of your contribution goes to the projects with no administrative costs.

EPA Congo Partnership

• Chairperson: Dr. Annette Onema-Orbach

Congo Partnership Resources

• Download the powerpoint presentation from the Congo Partnership Celebration event on Nov. 1, 2017

More Congo Partnership News

United Methodist Church of Tanzania

• Photos from Tanzania Missionaries visit to EPA churches, 2017
• Sept.-Dec. 2016 Newsletter

Mission News & Information