Matching Grants available for local church media campaigns

Do you want to invite people to your church but need a little more money to pay for a media campaign? The Memphis Conference Communications Committee is making available to local congregations matching grant money for media/evangelism campaigns. Any local church that plans to use Igniting Ministry tools in its media/evangelism campaign is eligible to apply. Igniting Ministry offers commercially produced radio spots, newspaper ads, billboards, door hangers, customizable cinema slides, bulletin covers, bus stop posters, direct mail circulars, worship graphics and more. Application forms have been mailed to every local church pastor. The deadline for applications is March 28.

Christian Educators set 2003 program schedule

• Thursday, March 6

Topic: Literature and Curriculum

Leader, Tom Capuson, Cokesbury

Martin First UMC, 225 Main Street

Call Phyllis Pritchett 731-587-2689

• Thursday, April 3

Topic: Sunday School Attendance

Leader, Rev. Rick Kirchoff

Ellendale UMC,

7217 Centralia Rd.

Call Mark Griffy, 901-382-5586

• Monday, June 2

Lunch together at Annual Conference

Baudo’s,

559 Wiley Parker Rd.

Call Kathy Hunter, 731-427-4887

• Thursday, September 4

Topic: Sunday School Rotation Model

Leader, Joan Walker

Milan First UMC,

2000 Jones Blvd.

Call Donna Vickers, 731-686-7431

• Thursday, October 2

Topic: Parenting Skills: Living with Disruptive Children & Nurturing Parents to Train Their Children

Leaders, Randy Cooper, Amy Wake

Henderson First, 131 North Ave.

Call Amy Wake, 731-989-2732

• Thursday, November 6

Topic: Conference Resources

Leader: Rev. Dennis Renshaw

Conference office,

24 Corporate Blvd.,               

Jackson, TN

Call Lori Richardson, 731-642-4764

Historical Society to meet February 22

The Memphis Conference Historical Society will meet Saturday, Feb. 22, at Bartlett UMC, 5676 Stage Road, Bartlett, Tenn., from 10 AM through lunch. After lunch, the group plans a tour of North Shelby County cemeteries and the new facilities at Bartlett UMC. Cost is limited to approximately $5 for lunch, according to the Rev. Elton Watlington. Historical Society vice president Cecil Kirk will preside. For more information, call Watlington at (901) 324-0919.

Global Gathering IV Off

Economic factors and the specter of war have led to the postponement of Global Gathering IV. It had been scheduled for mid-April in Birmingham. “World events have changed the fundamental nature of what we projected for Birmingham,” said Bishop Joel N. Martinez of San Antonio, president of the General Board of Global Ministries.

Officials of the mission agency said that many expected international attendees have been experiencing difficulty obtaining visas for entry into the United States. Domestic and world economic factors have adversely affected registration. “We are very sorry that we are forced to make this decision,” Bishop Martinez said. “A great many people have exerted a great deal of creative energy in this effort. We are especially grateful for the hard work of the United Methodist people of the North Alabama Conference, and we share their keen disappointment.”

Executives of the Board estimate that this action will result in savings of more than $1 million for the mission organization. GBGM is in the process of reimbursing fees and other expenses incurred by registrants.

Explore: ‘The Call Beyond’

On March 22, adults are invited to Northside UMC in Jackson, Tenn. to explore the call of God into lay or ordained ministry. Led by Dr. David Lowes Watson, Director of the Office of Pastor Formation, and Nancy Eubanks, associate director, the gathering will focus on the biblical and theological foundations of “call.” Register by March 10. For information, call (731) 664-8480.

Slavery in Eastern Europe no surprise   to Murray State’s international students

 INternational Students in Murray State UNited Methodist Women’s Unit: Pictured L-R: Irena Orenburg, Russia; Iryna Parkhomenko, Kiev, Ukraine; Valerie  Telpukhovska, Karkiv, Ukraine; Tanya Levit, St. Petersburg, Russia; and Jamila Jabbarli, Baku, Azerbaijan.

By Valerie Telpukhovska

Murray State student from Ukraine

 Have you ever imagined yourself being sold, bought or used like an inanimate object? It might seem a nightmare or something unreal, but unfortunately for a certain number of women from Eastern Europe it is the life they live.

That was the topic of discussion at the United Methodist Women’s meeting at the Murray State University Campus Fellowship on February 3, where a number of students from the former Communist block countries shared their opinions about women trafficking.

Women trafficking has become a real problem recently. Lots of women are literally sold to work as prostitutes in Western European countries, Middle East and the USA.

It was pointed out that it would be not correct to talk about the reason of this issue, because there can be no reasons for such a crime as treating a woman like a sex slave. It would be more correct to talk about the things that make women look for the job abroad and make women trafficking easier for the dealers.

Looking for a better life

After the collapse of the Socialist system in Eastern Europe, most of the countries faced economical difficulties. A high unemployment rate and decrease in living standard became the reality for the population, and it made people look for the job opportunities abroad. Besides, the police force in many countries was not organized enough, and criminals take an advantage of this fact.

Almost none of the women, who go abroad to seek better fate, realize that they are actually being sold. Women go there to work as nurses, baby-sitters, waitresses, but they are never told they will prostitute.

People who hire women to work abroad promise them really good money in a short period of time and provide the victims with number of documents to prove everything is real and legal.

Fairy tale ends, thriller begins

It seems like a fairy tale, so a girl comes to a foreign country waiting for magic. And that is where the fairy part ends, and thriller begins. The employer takes away the passport and other documents, and tells that the girl owes him a certain sum of money he paid for her, her travel expenses, accommodation and so on. So the only way for the girl to pay back is to prostitute for her employer.

There is no need to describe a life of such girl. Being sold from one pimp to another, forced to serve several men a day, sometimes beaten and even tortured, not many of them manage to get free. Usually those women can get freedom only after police arrests the “employer” who is usually involved in other criminal affairs.

Women are found in a poor condition, suffering from health problems, sexually transmitted diseases and drug-addiction, not to say about their psychological condition. Even those who go to prostitute intentionally do not expect the level of humiliation and enforcement they face after coming to their “destination point.”

Sometimes “employers” let a woman go back home, if she brings more women to work for them. So these women turn their friends and relatives, who trust them, into hostages.

Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match...

There are some other ways to get women to prostitute abroad, for example, matchmakers’ agencies. A woman, trying to arrange her personal life in such way, is sure that she got acquainted with the lonely soul, willing for love and serious relationship, and she can hardly imagine that it is a part of the net made to get women abroad to work as a prostitute.

The general public (in Eastern Europe) still believes that these women become prostitutes by their own will. Hence is the indifference and defiance towards them. But the point of accusing the woman in a crime she became a victim to, is completely senseless and unacceptable.

Nowadays young women are aware about the danger of becoming a prostitute. So they are more cautious when they are invited to work abroad for the good money. But still many of them get into such trouble. That is why women organizations are formed, to help those girls get free from the slavery and provide rehabilitation for those who became victims of this crime.

However, the contradictions between women organizations and government officials limit the possibilities for the solution of the problem. Government officials say that women organizations exaggerate the number of women involved and the importance of the problem in general.

International women organizations should coordinate their efforts in forcing governments to recognize the importance of the problem and adopting international program on preventing the sex slave trafficking.

Editor’s note:

Since July 2000, the United Methodist Committee on Relief/Kosovo has been actively engaged in direct assistance to international victims of trafficking in Kosovo. This assistance includes the provision of medical care, psychosocial support, vocational skills training and other activities. To date, over 250 women and girls have benefited from this program. UMCOR/Kosovo is expanding to include awareness raising activities and the provision of reproductive health care to victims of the sex trade.

Campus ministry a ‘haven’ for students to talk about spirituality

Valerie Telpukhovska is a member of the United Methodist Women’s Unit at Murray State University. The Unit is composed of girls from Azerbaijan, Ukraine, and the Russian Federation as well as the United States. Valerie is studying in America through a U. S. Department of State Cultural Exchange Program.

“Campus Ministry units like the one at Murray State provide a haven for students to talk about religious and spiritual concerns,” says the Rev. Brent Porterfield, Murray State campus minister. “International students like Valerie can be profoundly shaped by the relationship they develop with American students. For the United Methodist Church, this represents a significant connection for future world ministry.”