| Native American Awareness Sunday to be observed on April 14 BY LARRY HYGH JR.
UMCONNECTION STAFF Strengthening Native American ministries in the conference and throughout the connection is the goal of Native American Awareness Sunday which will be celebrated on April 14. According to the Rev. Douglas Hoffman, pastor of St. James UMC in West Friendship and chair of the conference committee on Native American ministries, some of these funds are used to support Peace Camp. This camp, which teaches conflict management to youth, includes a week at Camp Manidokan in Harpers Ferry for 20 inner-city children. Ten of those children are Native American. Native American Awareness Sunday is one of the six United Methodist Special Sundays with offerings. The conference treasurer retains 50 percent of the receipts from the offering to develop and strengthen Native American ministries in the conference. Hoffman says that another one of the goals for the conference committee is to identify Native Americans. We want to identify Native Americans who are attending United Methodist churches across the conference as well as Native Americans within the bounds of our conference, he said. We are desperately seeking to add to our committee, advocates or friends of the Native American community, said Hoffman. Were persevering and were getting some things done. The committee also pays the registration for a family to attend Native American family camp and provides some assistance to the Vera Shank Child Care Center in southeast Baltimore. | 
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