26 January 2007
Shared lives, changing lives
A new DVD shows how the Methodist Church brings hope, healing
and reconciliation to communities around the world.
'Shared Lives' is a short film that combines stories from projects
that work for justice and to combat deprivation and poverty with
stunning images captured by some World Church Office staff on
visits to their partner churches.
The 5-minute film shows how the Fund for World Mission is used to
support people all over the world. Stories featured on 'Shared
Lives' include that of mission partners Samantha and Peter Taylor,
who work with disadvantaged Roma children and with youths in
southern Bulgaria. Viewers can also find out about the Maua
Methodist Hospital in Kenya, which has a world-renowned HIV/AIDS
centre, providing food, education and out-patient care for AIDS
orphans and those who care for them. The Methodist Church sends
medical mission partners, disability specialists and experienced
exchange volunteers to support the work of this life-changing
project. The film can be viewed online at
www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=pandw.content&cmid=907.
John Nutt, Mission Education Co-ordinator, said; 'The Methodist
Church in Britain has a great heritage of work throughout the world
and we want to show people that this legacy is still going strong.
The Fund for World Mission supports these projects and many more
like them and we want to express our deepest thanks to all those
whose continued support has made this possible. 'Shared Lives'
gives them a chance to see how their money is being spent, but we
also hope that those who don't know about the Fund will be able to
find out more'.
The DVD can be run through a normal DVD-Player to view the film,
but when run through a computer DVD-drive, users can access a wide
range of free resources, ideas and information that can be printed
off for use. This includes posters, worship materials, Gift-Aid
forms and 'Take Up Your Cross' Ð a self-denial pack for lent. There
is also a guide to further web-based material.
The DVD is available free of charge and can be obtained from
Mission Education, Methodist Church House, 25 Marylebone Road,
London NW1 5JR; email: missioneducation@methodistchurch.org.uk,
tel: 020 7467 5116.