Our Covenant Offering at Annual Conference

1. Our Covenant Offering at Annual Conference Each year we receive offerings from churches and individuals to support our Covenant Partners-Haiti and Liberia Annual Conference . Theses offerings are split between ministries of Haiti and Liberia. Funds will feed the children in Haiti through the Hot Lunch Program and children at the Bishop Judith Craig Children’s Village in Liberia. Both countries struggle to meet the needs of hungry children.

2. Detroit Annual Conference Container goods arrive at Liberia Annual Conference 2008. As part of the Covenant, Haiti and Liberia have alternated years as the focus country receiving additional support. Previously, we filled containers which were shipped to Haiti or Liberia with requested supplies. In recent years the Covenant partners requested not sending containers and instead, assist with special ministries that they are focusing on. Last year our focus was Haiti. The offering requested was to assist in purchasing text books and provide camping scholarships for the Haiti school children.

3. United Methodist Schools In Liberia United Methodist education in Liberia began in 1839. Today the United Methodist School System is the largest private school system in Liberia. Although the government offers free education through the ninth grade, there are not enough government schools to meet the educational needs of the children. The United Methodist Church works in partnership with the government of Liberia to provide an education for all children.

4. United Methodist School System Before the Civil war there were 142 schools in the United Methodist system. Many schools were closed due to looting, damage and destruction. Currently there are 60 functioning United Methodist Schools. Educated Liberians fled the country during the war. Education ceased!!!! There is a shortage of formally educated teachers. In rural areas, if you can read and write your name you can be a teacher!

5. Liberia Teacher Training Program sponsored by Detroit Conference church. In 2013, Tecumseh United Methodist Church sponsored a Skills Workshop for all UMS teachers in St. John River District at their request. The workshop was conducted by facilitators from the Grand Bassa Community College. Thirty teachers attended, receiving instruction In: Lesson Planning Classroom Management Construction of Valid Tests Teaching English At the end of the session: Teachers Were Assessed Recommendations Were Provided Teachers Evaluated the Content and Value of the Workshop A recommendation for continuing the Training sessions received from the teachers.

6. Plan for Continued Training Sessions The Director of Education and Ministry of the Liberian Conference, Helen Roberts Evans, affirms the need for all teachers to improve their skills. Liberian Schools are divided into 4 regions, each having a College or Community College within the region. With adequate funding, two trainings will be provided per region in the next school year. These will be conducted by facilitators from local colleges. Each training will be adapted to the language, culture and specific needs of that region. Liberians involved in improving the education system!

7. Accountability The Tecumseh Church received: Detailed Receipt for Expenses Copies of the Workshop Topics and Methodologies Summary of the Training Including : Assessments Results Observations Recommendations In addition, 28 letters were received from teachers in attendance. A report from the Director of Education was presented at Tecumseh during her visit to DAC in November. This type of training provides role models for current Liberian teachers, and incentive to seek formal teacher education.

8. An Invitation from Detroit Annual Conference Board of Global Ministries Members of the Detroit Conference have been invited to support special training workshops for teachers in Liberia . The first Training session in August,2014. Regional training updates will be presented at the Liberian Summit hosted by the Detroit Conference November 13 and 14, 2014 at Narden Park Church, Farmington Hills . All DAC members are invited to attend the Summit. This presentation will encourage other conferences to participate in the trainings with the goal of Liberian Conference sustaining the needed trainings in the near future.

9. The Liberia Teacher Training can be supported with minimal offerings from many. Funds are routed through the Advance #15125B. Cost of Training $20,000. The Detroit Conference has 100, 000 members and 450 churches “ Blessed to be a Blessing”. Help Shoulder the Responsibility of Funding God’s Work in Liberia!