Day: November 2, 2020

In an article published on October 22, 2020, the Minnesota Annual Conference recognized our Wesley 4 Winona ministry in an article entitled “4 great ideas to reach, bless, serve during pandemic.” Here is an excerpt from this article:
 
“Spotlight and partner with local organizations: Recognizing that many local nonprofits lost income amid the pandemic and the stay-at-home order in the spring, Wesley UMC in Winona embarked on a new ministry to support them. Called “Wesley 4 Winona,” it spotlights a different organization each month and encourages the congregation to support that organization in a variety of ways. “The intent was to focus attention away from Wesley and to invite other organizations to educate us as to the good work they do to help our community,” said Rev. Robert Hicks. Each time a new organization is featured, the church interviews its director about the organization’s mission, the population it serves, and how COVID-19 has restricted its work and income; the interview is shared as a short segment during online worship. “We make sure we celebrate their work, we pray for them, and we urge people to contribute to every organization we feature,” said Hicks.“We want to focus during these days beyond our pain and our survival to the greater good of the community in which we are called to live out our discipleship as servants to God’s vast work of healing within all world systems that are hurting.” In the coming months, Wesley UMC will partner with Habitat for Humanity and other organizations on a “longest-night luminary” fundraiser to address housing insecurity in its area.”