This year, Northern Illinois United Methodists will be donating to one Bishop’s Appeal for two worthy recipients.

One beneficiary of the appeal for Education for the Central Conferences is the construction of a high school in Tanzania, at a mission site led by missionary and NIC clergy member Rev. Young Seon (Christina) Kim. The other is the Endowment Fund for Theological Education in the Central Conferences (which comprise Africa, Europe, and the Philippines). Gifts will be distributed equally to these projects.

The appeal “is not about charity; it is about justice, empowerment, and partnership,” says Rev. Fabiola Grandon-Mayer, NIC’s director of connectional ministries. “As a connectional church, we believe that every child deserves an education, and every community deserves well-trained spiritual leadership.”

Rev. Kim and the people of Dar Es Salaam completed a much-needed secondary school three years ago. Now the mission is planning to build a high school, which will help young people continue their education and pursue a future they may never have thought possible. Northern Illinois United Methodists can help empower these young adults to achieve the education and callings they discern.

The building will have four classrooms, a well-organized computer laboratory, separate dormitories for boys and girls, a multipurpose hall, and guest rooms for volunteer teachers and visitors.

In addition, the campus will have two outdoor shower and toilet facilities, two storage buildings, a basketball court, and two playgrounds with seating stands built into the natural slope of the land. These spaces will allow students and the local community to gather for sports, various events, and school programs.

The high school will share with the secondary school its science laboratories, a library, and a cafeteria,.  

"This high school is not just about buildings; it is about raising a next generation of Christian leaders for Tanzania and the kingdom of God," Rev. Kim says. 

The first class will have approximately 40 students, with the capacity to grow as enrollment increases. The school will serve both boys and girls. The latter group is particularly important, given that some communities discourage girls' schooling.

"This high school will provide quality Christian education, strong academic preparation, and character and spiritual formation," Rev. Kim says.  "It will give students opportunities to pursue higher education and meaningful careers, helping to lift families and communities out of poverty. We believe these students will become future leaders who serve Tanzania, the church, and the world."

Endowing theological education

The Council of Bishops this year is inviting all United Methodists to invest in educating church leaders in Africa, Europe, and the Philippines, where resources are limited. Through gifts made to the Endowment Fund for Theological Education in the Central Conferences, the bishops plan to fund 500 theological scholarships in perpetuity for emerging clergy leaders in these areas.

Today, fewer than 5 percent of pastors outside the US hold a master’s degree in theology, compared to more than 71 percent within the U.S. The scholarships supported through this campaign will equip a new generation of women and men for pastoral ministry in some of the most challenging missional contexts.

Bishop Eben Nhiwatiwa and Barbara Boigegrain, who are chairing this year’s “Miracle Sunday” campaign for the endowment, note that “in December 2024, when three United Methodists were killed in Munga Dosa, Nigeria, Bishop Ande Emmanuel and Rev. Eli Sule Yakku, together with other local leaders, stepped forward to comfort grieving families and steady their community. Their calm, courageous leadership kept the church united in a moment of deep pain.

“Both leaders were formed at the United Methodist Banyam Theological Seminary in Bambur, Nigeria, where rigorous theological study is paired with practical leadership training. Their preparation made a profound difference when their community needed them most.”

The 2012 General Conference established the Central Conference Theological Education Fund for the regions outside the US. While this has been a helpful source of support, the CCTEF’s reliance on apportionment receipts means that the amount of support annually fluctuates according to the budget situation of the general church. The Endowment Fund will provide funding in perpetuity, eliminating the uncertainty created by relying on General Conference decisions and World Service Apportionment Fund receipts.

Here are ways you can support this year's Bishop's Appeal:

• Pray for students, teachers, and church leaders in Africa, Europe, and the Philippines
• Talk to your church about the Bishop’s Appeal
• Receive a special offering during worship
• Share the story through newsletters, social media, bulletin inserts, and church gatherings
• Post a flyer at your church
• Invite others to learn about the impact of education in Africa, Europe, and the Philippines
• Donate individually online or as a church

 

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The Bishop’s Appeal has been a Northern Illinois Conference tradition since 2013, inviting churches to look beyond their walls and remember who we are as a connectional people: bound together not only by shared faith, but by shared responsibility for God’s mission in the world. The appeal is a way to gather hearts, prayers, and resources toward a common purpose and to remind us that when we act together, our impact is greater than anything we could accomplish alone.

Over the years, the Bishop’s Appeal has supported mission efforts such as Harvest 2020, Imagine No Malaria, Justice For Our Neighbors, Rosecrance, UM Global AIDS Fund, refugee ministries, COVID relief, Ukraine/Russia war relief, and others.