Click here to visit the Initiatives of Hope website
Click here to download the Initiatives of Hope brochure (pdf).
Initiatives of Hope (IOH), the primary mission focus of the Virginia Conference, seeks to create and nurture partnerships based on God’s hope and love in mission with people of other cultures, not ministry to them. Currently IOH is in relationship in three special areas of our world — Mozambique, Brazil and Cambodia. Through these partnerships in God’s mission, Virginia churches have special opportunities to visit, work, worship and share in grace upon grace across borders, oceans and cultures.
Mozambique |
Brazil |
Cambodia |
The work we do through IOH doesn’t just change the lives of those with whom we are in partnership, it changes our lives, too. When we engage in risk-taking mission and service, we begin to see the world through the eyes of those we go to serve.
Our partnerships are aimed at providing resources that our partners can sustain long into the future. Among them are:
■ Church leadership training for clergy and lay leaders of The United Methodist Church of Mozambique and Cambodia;
■ Early childhood intervention through the Shade & Fresh Water program in cities across Brazil;
■ Medical and dental care through the United Methodist medical boat on the Amazon in Brazil and at Chicuque Rural Hospital in Mozambique;
■ Promoting education through scholarships for children and youths in Cambodia and Mozambique.
You — and your congregation — can get involved in a variety of ways. Click on Mozambique, Brazil or Cambodia to explore ways to join this connectional — and mutual — ministry.
"Mission," as a lifestyle, is one in which we participate in God’s mission of grace and reconciliation in our daily lives, not just on specially designated “mission trips.” Cultivating a mission-focused church revitalizes the congregation. You are welcome to use IOH Worship and Education Resources as materials in teaching the theology of mission and what "being missional" means in Christian education classes, as well as in church programming and worship. Many of these resources were contributed by our partners in Mozambique and Brazil.
Initiatives of Hope focuses on mission that empowers the schools, medical facilities and children’s centers toward a future of self-sufficiency and sustainability. You and your congregation can be part of these exciting ministries! Use the sidebar menu to explore how you can get involved.
Children’s Alternative Gift Guide
Many alternative giving catalogs are available at Christmas for giving to humanitarian organizations and mission projects. As faithful connectional United Methodists, the Initiatives of Hope Mission Team of the Virginia Annual Conference asks you to consider offering this alternative guide to the children of your church to give a “different” Christmas gift this year. Click this link, IOH Children’s Alternative Gift Guide (pdf), to take you to a flyer that you can print and distribute or post in your church. It is directed to children and encourages them to make a gift to children in the Initiatives of Hope focus countries of our conference. Thank you for offering a different kind of Christmas this year!