Western North Carolina Conference celebrates, renews commitment to missional engagement nationally and abroad

[caption id="attachment_7741" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Africa University. Credit: UMNS[/caption] CHARLOTTE, NC -The Western North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church is celebrating the fruits of its missional partnerships and connectional relationships this month. In October 2016, parts of North Carolina were ravished by devastating flooding from Hurricane Matthew. The Western North Carolina Conference Disaster Response Team, led by Rev. Ken Anderson, was poised to immediately spring into action. Rev. Anderson, retired Chief Petty Officer, US Coast Guard, consistently updated thousands of North Carolinians and worked to activate teams that are now ready to be received in Eastern North Carolina. In his information-packed updates, Rev. Anderson also encouraged victims and responders, reminding them that, God is in the midst of both the “early response and long term recovery.” Churches and volunteers are being asked to put a hold on flood buckets at this time.  There was an overwhelming response to the last request and there is now a reserve of over 500 buckets being held at the Mission Response Center. Bishop Paul Leeland, Resident Bishop of this conference, has extended a warm expression of gratitude to Rev. Anderson for travelling with Bishop Hope Morgan-Ward of the North Carolina Conference. Bishop Ward informed Bishop Leeland that her conference is ready to receive work teams to help in recovery efforts. Meanwhile, the work of missions extends beyond disaster recovery. The Western North Carolina Conference also celebrates the thirteen scholarships given to deserving students attending Africa University. Africa University is a United Methodist-affiliated private institution, whose mission is, “to provide quality education within a Pan-African context through which persons can acquire general and professional knowledge and skills, grow in spiritual maturity, develop sound moral values, ethics and leadership qualities.” Bishop Leeland, along with thousands of United Methodists across North Carolina, stands resolute in total support and commitment to missions, fulfilling the unifying call to follow Jesus, make disciples, and transform the world. For more information, contact:  Caroline Wood, Director of Mission Partnerships and Connectional Relationships, cwood@wnccumc.org