Urgent message from Dr. Jo Anne Lyon on the Ebola crisis

NEW VIDEO released today of General Superintendent Dr. Jo Anne Lyon talking urgently to all Wesleyan churches about the Ebola crisis in Africa. Click here to view the 3-minute video. Pastors and others: click here to download the video for showing in churches. Missionary Carrie Jo (Kinde) Cain is returning to Sierra Leone next week to help fight the Ebola outbreak. She will be at Kamakwie Wesleyan Hospital. Dr. Diane Foley will also be travelling to Sierra Leone to work with the National Superintendent of The Wesleyan Church of Sierra Leone and World Hope International as they organize against the spread of the disease.

 

 

Ebola Update and Relief Fund

The Wesleyan Church, August 8, 2014

Update on the Ebola crisis in Sierra Leone:   1.   Kerry Kind and Andrea Summers, from Wesleyan headquarters, visited Sierra Leone briefly, returning at the end of July. Although observing the Ebola crisis was not the original reason for our visit, we could not help but note the rising concern among the people as the incidence of the disease was quickly growing. 2.   On Monday, August 4, Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma declared a “stay-at-home-day” on the heels of declaring a national emergency. He is mustering the resources of the nation and international aid to take collective action against the greatest-ever outbreak of the deadly virus.   3.   The national superintendent of the Wesleyan Church of Sierra Leone, Rev. Usman Fornah, also is the general secretary of the Inter-Religious Council of Sierra Leone. In that capacity, he is giving leadership to a nationwide ebola sensitization effort. He has also met repeatedly with the Minister of Health and the President urging rapid distribution of health packages to remote health centers, including Kamakwie Wesleyan Hospital and other Wesleyan health centers. However, in his words, the supplies are never enough in these situations, and they must turn to overseas partners to augment their capacity to battle the health crisis. Please donate to the Wesleyan Emergency Relief Fund for this crisis. 4.   The staff at Kamakwie Wesleyan Hospital is well-trained in Ebola prevention and management. However, staffing, supplies, and equipment that are needed in this crisis are in short supply. Also, resources are needed for health workers to mobilize and quickly provide education in hundreds of villages: perhaps utilizing the Wesleyan church network to get the appropriate health information to the grass roots.  Please consider a gift to this relief fund. We can help stop the spread of this virus!   See: Ebola virus death toll rises in Sierra Leone   Donate to the Wesleyan Emergency Relief Fund for this crisis.

 

Gen. Supt. Dr. Jo Ann Lyon Calls for Prayer for Persecuted Christians in Iraq

The Wesleyan Church, August 8, 2014 View this email in your browser

Call to prayer for Iraq and the Middle East   General Superintendent Dr. Jo Anne Lyon has issued a call to prayer for the persecuted Christians in Iraq and for God’s peace to prevail across the Middle East, including Israel, Palestine, and Syria, as well.   The Wesleyan Church joins with the National Association of Evangelicals and other Christians everywhere in coordinating prayer for peace and for safety for victims of this violence and persecution.   The following came from NAE President Leith Anderson:   In the last few weeks, thousands of Christians have been forced by militants to flee their homes in northern Iraq. The United States has authorized air strikes and humanitarian aid airdrops in Iraq. Stories of the persecution of Christians and other minorities in Iraq, Egypt, Syria, and other areas in the Middle East fill the media. Please join in praying for peaceful resolution and relief for those caught up in this.    Prayer Events The World Evangelical Alliance is organizing a prayer gathering for the Middle East at the International Salvation Army Headquarters in New York City at 5:30 pm on August 14. Encourage your church to take time this Sunday to pray as a congregation for Iraq. Prayer Points Pray for the President and his advisors as they consider where and how to provide humanitarian assistance and military intervention in Iraq. Pray for safety for Christians and other minorities in Iraq who are fleeing violence and persecution. Pray that they would find safe harbor. Pray for comfort for those across the Middle East who have lost loved ones and have suffered traumatic violence. Pray for missionaries and humanitarian aid workers who serve in difficult and violent corners of the world, that they will be kept safe, and that their efforts will contribute to a fuller realization of the peace and prosperity that God intends for all. For a few more resources, visit www.nae.net/prayforiraq.

 

Ebola Crisis Update

Article

By Ron McClung | Aug 1, 2014 Assistant General Secretary The Wesleyan Church

Ebola virus death toll continues to rise

More than 700 persons have died in West Africa due to the spreading Ebola virus. Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma (pictured) proclaimed a state of public emergency in order to “take a more robust approach” in dealing with the Ebola outbreak. This is why Wesleyans are responding by giving through the Wesleyan Emergency Relief Fund (see links below to give).

“The disease is beyond the scope of any one country, or community to defeat,” Koromoa said. “It’s social, economic, psychological and security implications require scaling up measures at international, national, inter-agency and community levels.”

He called the crisis an “extraordinary” challenge that requires “extraordinary measures.”

President Koroma, who is a member of The Wesleyan Church in Sierra Leone, cancelled his planned trip to the US-Africa Summit in the United States. Instead he plans to travel to Conakry, Guinea, to meet with other heads of state to discuss sub-regional strategies for defeating the disease.

Among the emergency measures he called for over a period of 60 to 90 days are:

·         Giving medical teams the authority to quarantine localities and homes where the disease is identified.

·         Restricting public meetings and gatherings with the exception of essential meetings to sensitize and educate citizens about the Ebola crisis.

·         Conducting house-to-house searches to trace and quarantine Ebola victims and suspects.

·         Establishing new protocols to screen arriving and departing passengers at the country’s main airport.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a travel advisory against non-essential travel to the West Africa countries of Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia. Two regional airlines, Nigeria’s Arik and Asky, cancelled all flights to Sierra Leone and Liberia. Arik Air explained that the decision to stop the flights came as a precautionary measure. The airlines also called for inbound flights from those Ebola-affected countries to be suspended.

The Ebola virus symptoms include severe fever, muscle pain, weakness, vomiting, and diarrhea. This is followed by organs shutting down, causing unstoppable bleeding. The World Health Organization has called it one of the deadliest viral diseases known to humankind. It is transmitted by direct contact with the blood, body fluids, and tissues of those infected. The current outbreak apparently began in southern Guinea and spread to Sierra Leone, which has reported the highest number of cases. The countries of Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia are packed shoulder to shoulder on the west coast of Africa.

Liberia President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf also made emergency declarations in her country, including the closing of all but three land border crossings, restricting public gatherings, and establishing quarantine in communities heavily affected by the Ebola virus. Both of these countries, hard-hit with the outbreak, are ill-equipped to battle the disease.

Wesleyans are responding to this crisis by:

·         Giving through the Wesleyan Emergency Relief Fund. The funds will be used specifically to assist our humanitarian partner, World Hope International, in battling this disease. Our Wesleyan hospital at Kamakwie in northern Sierra Leone urgently needs such items as gloves, gowns, masks, and IV supplies. The funds will also go toward training workers to deal with patients afflicted with Ebola, as well as transportation to the villages. Kamakwie is the only hospital within a 55-mile radius. Donate here.

·         Praying for health care workers and victims. As President Koroma stated, “Sierra Leone is in a great fight. Failure is not an option.” Please pray personally and enlist your church and other prayer groups in this effort to stand together with our brothers and sisters in Sierra Leone.

 

 

Ebola Crisis

You have heard about the Ebola virus that is threatening lives in Central Africa.

 

This terrible disease is spreading throughout Sierra Leone where there are hundreds of Wesleyan churches and many thousands of families that we count as our brothers and sisters. Many of you may remember meeting Dr. Warren Fornah, the director of the Jesus Film Project in Sierra Leone. He was our guest at District Conference.

 

We invite you to pray with us that God would protect and help our Wesleyan families who are in great danger from the Ebola virus at this time.
 
We also covet your prayers for the hospital staff at Kamakwie, the Wesleyan hospital that provides the only hospital-based service for many miles around the northwestern area of this impoverished country.
 
Dr. Jo Anne Lyon has authorized the opening of a Wesleyan Emergency Relief Fund to accept financial gifts and support, 100 percent of which will be used for hospital-related materials to deal with Ebola, as well as providing for training programs for area churches and communities to build awareness of the best ways to prevent the spread of this deadly disease.
 
Thank you for asking your church family to contribute to this fund and to pray for our Wesleyan churches, families, and hospital staff, who serve on the front lines and are preparing to encounter this horrible disease locally.

 

 

Ministers' Family Fellowshi Day at VMC

Our last district summer gathering is coming Sunday, August 31. We are planning a Ministers’ Family Day at Victory Mountain Camp. Your entire immediate family is invited and all the camp activities will be available for you to enjoy at your leisure. There will be a cook-out meal at 6pm served at the camp shelter.  The gates to the camp will open at 3pm and you are welcome to come anytime beginning at 3pm and spend the afternoon and evening at the camp.

 

There is no charge for this event. It is provided for you and your family in appreciation for all that you do in serving your church in The NC East District. RSVP to pastordarrell@ncewesleyan.com the number that will be attending from you family. If you have missed connecting with old friends from across the district this summer this will be the time to do that. A great time for all our new minsters to bring their family and get more acquainted with the district family.

 

We will have the homemade ice cream contest again this year. We need at least 10 to bring a freezer of homemade ice cream. The winner will receive a $25 gift card. If you will be in the homemade ice cream contest indicate that when you RSVP the number coming from your family. Bring the homemade ice cream recipe you choose.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome Matthew Elias Gonzalez

Congratulations to Asheboro Neighbors Grove Iglesia Pastor  Norberto and Nancy Gonzalez on the birth of Matthew Elias born Wednesday, July 30. Matthew Elias joins brothers Sam and Ezekiel,  and sister Belinda, as the newest addition to their family.  You may send a message to Pastor Norberto and Nancy at norbenancy@yahoo.es  or to 4298 Brown Oaks Road, Randleman, NC 27317.

 

Matthew Elias