Gifts to ‘One Great Hour’ offering needed to support relief agency

United Methodist News Service
The Dec. 26 tsunami disaster around the Indian Ocean makes giving to the March 6 One Great Hour of Sharing denominationwide special offering critical.
That was the word last week from the Rev. Paul Dirdak, chief executive of the United Methodist Committee on Relief.
Revenue from One Great Hour of Sharing pays relief committee administrative costs. Consequently, all gifts to disaster appeals go to aid the affected region.
“UMCOR receives no World Service funds or any other apportionments,” Dirdak said. “United Methodists’ gifts to this special offering keep UMCOR’s delivery system in place so we can respond quickly and effectively to disasters such as South Asia.”
Gifts to One Great Hour of Sharing over the committee’s 2 percent administrative costs are channeled where they are most needed—to assist the most vulnerable people whose need is greatest, Dirdak said.
“Jesus promised to be with us always, ‘to the very end of the age,’” Dirdak said. “Jesus extends this call to United Methodists to ‘be there’ as well—to be the hands and heart of the church wherever people are suffering. Gifts to One Great Hour of Sharing, channeled through UMCOR, enable our great church to answer that call.”
The committee is a unit of the General Board of Global Ministries. Information about committee programs is available at www.umcor.org. One Great Hour of Sharing resources can be ordered by calling toll free (888) 346-3862 or going online to www.UMCGiving.org/ss.