Mission Gala Benefits Three Agencies

Nearly 100 United Methodists and guests gathered in Cranberry Township on Saturday, Nov. 21 for a Mission Gala to support and recognize the work of three United Methodist mission agencies who are making a difference in the lives of those in need in the Johnstown, Pittsburgh and Erie areas.  The three agencies are:

• Bethany House Academy, which provides early childhood education, mentoring and life skills training for youth and other support to residents of two of Pittsburgh's lowest-income public housing communities
• Erie United Methodist Alliance, which connects with and serves the homeless throughout Erie County; provides housing to homeless veterans; offers emergency shelter and transitional housing for homeless families; operates The Rainbow Connection thrift shop; and helps to meet a variety of other needs. (Learn more at www.euma-erie.org. )

•  United Methodist Human Services, with offices in First United Methodist Church of Johnstown, serves those in need throughout the Johnstown District. The agency operates food pantries, feeding ministries, thrift shops, direct aid, layettes and hand-made items, shoes, emergency assistance, hygiene items, and homeless outreach. For information, visit www.johnstownfirst.org/umhs.html.

  Inserting modern cultural references into a re-telling of the parable of the Good Samaritan, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette columnist Tony Norman, speaker for the event, likened the outreach of the agencies to the life-saving ministry of the Samaritan who went out of his way to care for someone from a culture unlike his own who had been victimized. Norman said the outreach ministries are enabling homeless families and veterans to survive in the Erie area; women and children to avoid eviction or utility shutoff and secure food in the Johnstown area; and children and youth to overcome violence and poverty in two areas of Pittsburgh where drug and gang-related violence threatens residents.

  Representing the agencies at the event were their executive directors: Cheryl Davis of EUMA; Connie Gossard of UMHS and Keith Murphy of Bethany House Academy.  Emcee for the event  was WTAE-TV newswoman Sally Wiggin,  and entertainment was provided by The Quarter-Tones of Ingomar United Methodist Church.

  Greensburg District Superintendent William B. Meekins Jr., who chaired the board of Bethany House for several years, proposed the Mission Gala to raise funds for United Methodist mission agencies which, like the people they serve, are struggling to survive in difficult economic times.  In late summer, Meekins walked more than 200 miles, visiting churches throughout the Greensburg District to raise mission awareness and funds for Bethany House and Project Happy Feet, a district mission project.

  Meekins and the Rev. Beth Nelson coordinated the work of a Gala organizing committee of mission-minded United Methodists from throughout Western PA. Nelson said the event is designed to be held annually and will benefit three agencies each year.