United Methodists across the connection will be taking a special offering this Sunday in recognition of Human Relations day, taken each year on the Sunday before Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. For more than half a century, United Methodists have observed this churchwide special Sunday in recognition of the message Jesus demonstrated during his life: all of God’s children are important.
Gifts received for this offering help build King’s vision of “the beloved community.” Last year, $273,514 was raised across the denomination and was used in the following types of ministries:
• Fifty-seven percent of the funds received support community developer programs that strive to build, maintain, promote and strengthen racial-ethnic minority congregations through local UMC congregations.
• Thirty-three percent of the funds received support The United Methodist Voluntary Services (UMVS) that serves as a resource to congregations, volunteer-based groups, and programs that challenge unjust political, social, and economic systems which threaten the livelihoods of people.
• Ten percent of the funds received support rehabilitation programs. These programs work to strengthen youth empowerment programs that provide positive avenues for youth participation in their communities through the churches, mentoring programs, and boys/girls clubs.
