The Crisis

In Darfur, Sudan, 300,000 to 400,000 people have died since 2003 as a result of civil unrest, lack of food and disease. More than 2.5 million children, women and men are refugees, with little food, drinkable water, protection or hope. The U.N. identified Darfur as the worst humanitarian crisis in the world today.

The Response

Ginghamsburg Church is a 4500+ United Methodist congregation in Tipp City, Ohio. In December 2010, Senior Pastor Mike Slaughter challenged Ginghamsburg’s attendees for the seventh year to spend only one-half on Christmas gifts of what they would normally spend and to bring the rest in for the Sudan Project “Miracle Offering.”  The 2010 result? Over $700,000 to continue Ginghamsburg’s child protection & development program, serving 24,000 children in Darfur, Sudan, while also expanding a project enabling 17water yards that will provide safe water and sanitation for 219,000 people, the most critical health need in Darfur. The 2010 offering is also being used to implement a primary health care unit in the brand new country of South Sudan, an important first step toward being able to birth new South Sudanese faith communities. The 2010 offering total was especially miraculous given the continuing recession.

2010 was the seventh year that Ginghamsburg and partner churches/schools participated in this Christmas “Miracle Offering” initiative, which has enabled the church since January 2005 to invest $5.1 million in sustainable humanitarian projects via a strategic partnership with the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). Those investments have included a sustainable agriculture program, safe water and sanitation as well as child protection and development.

Pastor Mike Slaughter through his speaking engagements in locations throughout North America and abroad has also challenged other churches to take compassionate action toward Sudan, which the United Nations named as the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. Those challenges to other churches as well as schools and business partners have resulted in partners providing more than 15 percent of the $5.1 million total. (View partners for the 2010 offering.) For more information on how you can help, visit Get Involved.

Our Strategic Partner - UMCOR

The United Methodist Committee On Relief (UMCOR) is the not-for-profit humanitarian agency of The United Methodist Church. Since 1940 UMCOR's mission-providing relief in disaster areas, aiding refugees and confronting the challenge of world hunger and poverty-has helped to heal the hurts of humanity in nearly 100 countries. When you give money to the United Methodist Committee on Relief one hundred percent of your tax-deductible gifts go to the emergency or project that you designate. UMCOR's administrative costs come from other sources. Visit UMCOR on the web at www.umcor.org