Online Archives

Hands Across the Ocean

Annapolis District
Project: Undetermined
Projected goal: Undetermined

The Annapolis District has not yet selected a specific project in the Zimbabwe Partnership. Instead, The New Years Eve Watch Night service offerings go to benefit The Dube scholarship helps to support Violet Dube and her son while she is studying at Shenandoah College in Winchester, Va.; Funds were provided to Cleo McCoy and Emily Frye of Crofton UMC to help orphans in Zimbabwe. The women raised $32,000 that provided school fees, shoes, medical supplies and toys to several hundred children at the Uzumba Orphan Trust and the Nhehweyembwa Orphan Trust; and the district is helping to bring the Rev. Cecil Mudedes family from Zimbabwe to the United States.

Baltimore-Harford District
Project: Rusape District parsonage, office and Inner City Church; Chikurwo Church; and school hall and parsonage in Nyazura
Projected goal: $37,000

Congregations in this district are asked to present an offering by Easter for repairing and expanding the district parsonage in Rusape. 

$500 per church will help us to reach our goal. Congregations have been pleased that so much can be done for that amount of money, said district superintendent the Rev. Mark Derby.

Baltimore North District
Project: Nenhowe Church
Projected goal: $35,000

The district is raising money to roof the Nenhowe church. In a year-and-a-half, $10,000 was raised and another $10,000 is almost ready to be sent in. The money will be used to hire local labor. It hopes to finish the project by June. Any additional money will be used to start an orphan trust.

Baltimore West District
Project: Mabelreign UMC
Projected goal: $50,000

Mablereign UMC has a relationship with St. Paul UMC in New Windsor that focuses on Christian education. The district has raised about $5,000 since the project started in August with an activity calendar that identified a variety of ways a small family could raise money to support Zimbabwe.

Cumberland-Hagerstown District 
Project: Undetermined
Projected goal: Undetermined

The Cumberland-Hagerstown District is in the process of fundraising and hopes to select a specific project soon. The Rev. W. Kenneth Lyons Jr., district superintendent, said that bulletin inserts have been distributed to encourage congregations to give money to the Zimbabwe project in honor of someone or an event. The honoree would receive a professionally-designed card informing them of the gift that has been given in their honor. According to Lyons, several churches have already raised funds for the effort, including Hancock UMC that raised $500 from a music festival put on by the bell choir.

Frederick District 
Project: The parsonage and Mutare District offices for the Rev. Philip Mupindu
Projected goal: $9,000 to $15,000

The district has tentatively scheduled repairing the Rev. Philip Mupindus parsonage and the district offices.

Washington-Columbia District
Project: St. Marys Church
Projected goal: $50,000

In the Dangamvura Township, an expanding suburban area, St. Marys church has begun their building project. The district will help to complete the church.

Washington East District
Project: Lydia Chimonyo School for Girls
Projected goal: $36,000

The Lydia Chimonyo School for Girls is a residential secondary school for 600 to 800 girls from across Zimbabwe. The district project involves building a dorm for 40 girls. The money raised will make it possible for the school to employ workers from the country. 

There is a coordinator in each of the local churches of the Washington East District. Alice Jackson, of Ebenezer UMC in Lanham, is the district coordinator.

Washington West District 
Project: St. Johns Chikanga UMC, phase two, and Africa University Sports Complex
Projected goal: $300,000

Washington West District is raising funds for two projects: Completing the new sanctuary of St. Johns Chikanga UMC, a congregation of more than 600 people that currently worships in a large wooden shed. The district will complete this project in 2001 at a cost of $25,000; to develop a sports facility at Africa University with four multi-purpose courts, an all-weather track and a sports complex. It is envisioned that these expanded sports facilities will also be used by the Old Mutare community. The tennis courts, which were the first phase, are now under construction. 

Larry Hygh Jr.