OCWM (Our Church’s Wider Mission) Global Missions

 

The United Church of Christ’s regional, national and global missions are assisted monetarily by our congregation. OCWM Basic Support and OCWM Special Mission Support provide funding for the work of UCC Conference and National ministries in support of the life and work of the local church and its members. Being a 5 for 5 church means that we contribute to OCWM Basic Support and also to each of these four Special Mission Offerings. OCWM Special Mission Support appeals include the following:

• One Great Hour of Sharing - a special mission offering that works with local, national, and international partners, and together provides support to health, education, refugee resettlement, agricultural and emergency relief initiatives in 138 countries
  
  
• Strengthen the Church (sometimes known as Share the Love) - a special mission offering that builds the United Church of Christ's future
  • by funding new church starts and invigorating existing congregations
  • by nurturing lay and pastoral leadership
  • by building youth and young adult ministries
  • by supporting the God is Still Speaking Ministry and its welcome for all within the church
• Neighbors in Need - a special mission offering of the UCC that supports ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States. One-third of NIN funds support the Council for American Indian Ministry (CAIM). Two-thirds of the offering is used by the UCC's Justice and Witness Ministries (JWM) to support a variety of justice initiatives, advocacy efforts, and direct service projects.

• The Christmas Fund (sometimes called Veterans of the Cross) - a special mission offering that helps provide supplemental monies for pension and health insurance premiums to low-income retirees. At Christmas, the offering provides gift checks to hundreds of annuitants but it also provides emergency assistance to clergy and lay employees and their families throughout the year.