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In March of this year, an initial distribution of $15,000 was made from the Baltimore-Washington Conference HOPE Fund to support the building of a 400-seat church in the village of Juru, Zimbabwe. A team from Community UMC in Crofton personally delivered these funds.

When Al Leslie and I first visited Juru in October 2005, we were met by about 14 members of this small congregation that had been meeting in a thatched hut for the past 25 years. Their total membership consisted of 25-30 people ? mostly women along with several very old gentlemen.

You would not believe the songs of praise and the tears of joy that were shed when we shared with them that we were coming back in March 2007 to help them build their new 400-seat church. The amount of hope that this commitment gave to them was immeasurable.

When our team of 15 returned in March this year, we were met by an even larger group of women and men of all ages who worked side by side with us for almost three weeks as we constructed their new church. The amount of hope that this commitment gave to them was immeasurable.

This 'field of dreams' story has continued to unfold throughout this past summer as the new Juru Church experienced explosive growth. On one Sunday in August, Murewa District Superintendent Alan Gurupira visited the new church and baptized 18 children and eight adults and served Communion to 82 members in attendance.

This is truly an event of great significance. Not only is this the first of many distributions to be made from the HOPE Fund, it marked the 10-year anniversary of an incredible relationship between Community UMC and the Murewa District.

Since March 1997, Community UMC has sent more than 50 members of its congregation to various villages in the Murewa District, where we have built three churches, a parsonage and a medical clinic.

By contributing to the HOPE Fund, even more of our local churches will have an opportunity to become personally involved in the conference's partnership with Zimbabwe.
This partnership is blessing not only our brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe, it is also bringing opportunities for relationship and discipleship to those of us here in the Baltimore-Washington Conference.

Several people have asked me why I have devoted so much of my time to mission work in Zimbabwe. This sounds like an easy question to answer. But, as I've tried to come up with a succinct answer, I've found it somewhat difficult. However, I found the answer recently in some of the words to a song written by Gloria Gaither and Jean Sibelius called 'I Then Shall Live' (to the tune of Finlandia).

Upon further reflection, these words could also be read as 'I Then Shall GIVE'. I encourage you to read these words and reflect upon why it is so important for each of our member churches not only to give to The HOPE Fund, but to know why we are giving.

I Then Shall Live (Give)

I then shall live (give) as one who's learned compassion,
I've been so loved that I'll risk loving, too.
I'll know how fear builds walls instead of bridges,
I'll dare to see another's point of view.
And when relationships demand commitment,
Then I'll be there to care and follow through.

Your kingdom come around and through and in me,
Your power and glory let them shine through me.
Your hallowed name, O' may I bear with honor,
And may your living Kingdom come in me.
The Bread of Life, O' may I share with honor
And may you feed a hungry world through me.

Charlie Moore is a member of Community UMC in Crofton. To learn more about how you can contribute to the HOPE Fund visit www.bwcumc.org/hopefund.