Zion Supports Hospice in Tanzania

February 25, 2010 — Angela

This note was recently received from Dr. Kristopher Hartwig following a gift from Zion of $2778.89, representing 3% of all contributions to the Forward in Faith fund from May to November, 2009. Dr. Hartwig is an ELCA missionary in Tanzania and the Coordinator for Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT) Palliative Care services. A video showing the work of one of the hospice teams in the program can be viewed on the Global Health Ministries website.

Dear folks at Zion,

Thanks again for your generous gift in December. It arrived safely and has been put to work. In fact we trust that by now there is good fruit coming from the great training we were able to offer in December.

The training was for four of our Lutheran Hospitals, scattered around the country, rejuvenating their Hospice teams. We had a Chaplain, Nurse, and Doctor from each site. Our ELCT team of 4 all pitched in to make it a worthwhile time, and people left with great enthusiasm.

Part of these next 3 months will be visiting those places. Karatu is a mere 2 hours away and will be easy. But Lugala is 2 days each way. Bulongwa is also 2 days but, we could visit Ilula on the way/way back. It is always the time in follow up that is a tough challenge. Meanwhile, for sick people in their communities, it is a great blessing.

Thanks again.

Kristopher Hartwig

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Captial Campaign Approved

February 21, 2010 — Angela

At a special meeting on Sunday, February 21, the congregation approved the motion:

Based upon the recommendation of the Forward In Faith Selection Committee and the results of the assessment performed by Jim Pence of KAIROS; The Zion Church Council moves that Zion commits to a 3 year capital campaign which would be led by Jim Pence of Kairos and Associates in the fall of 2010. Work will begin on this campaign immediately upon approval of this motion.

The cost of leadership from KAIROS will total $42,000.

Goals of the campaign could include the following:

  • Continue to make mortgage payments
  • Pay-off roof and parking lot loan
  • Pay down part of mortgage balance
  • Support mission work

The campaign will also include approximately $8,000 for marketing expenses.

There were 71 ‘yes’ votes and 21 ‘no votes.

Background information can be found here.

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Special Congregational Meeting

February 11, 2010 — Angela

A Special Congregational Meeting will be held in Trinity Hall at 11:30am on Sunday, February 21 concerning a capital campaign to be conducted in the fall of 2010.

At the current rate of expenses and with no changes in income, it is projected that funds for Zion’s Forward in Faith account, which enables Zion to make its monthly mortgage and building repair loan payments, will be zero by September or October this year. Also, the last three-year capital funds campaign is now complete. So, a Forward in Faith selection committee (Steve Peterson, Jason Kabe, Chuck Zumbush, and Scott Morin) has been investigating options for the church. They have interviewed a number of consulting companies and have recommended Kairos and Associates to the Council too lead our efforts. After interviewing approximately 50 individuals in the church, Jim Pence, of Kairos and Associates, has recommended to the Council that background work begin immediately, with a drive start in earnest this fall. A fall campaign is being recommended. Given Pastor Ted’s recent start and the short amount of time for a spring campaign, the fall seemed to be better timing.

The motion that will be presented is: Read the rest of this entry »

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2010 Capital Campaign

January 26, 2010 — Angela

Forward in Faith logoZion is supported by two funds: the Building Fund that enables Zion to make its monthly mortgage and building repair loan payments, and the General Fund which provides operating money for carrying out the many ministries of Zion.

The congregation has conducted three Forward in Faith capital campaigns since 2001 when planning for the 2004 expansion of the church building began. These campaigns have also supplied benevolence funds for ministries beyond this congregation.

Because of transitions within the congregation and pastoral staff, Forward in Faith 3 was a one-year program which is ending in June of 2010.

Three people were asked to research Zion’s options for continuing to service the building mortgage and debt related to some building repairs. Scott Morin, Jason Kabe and Chuck Zumbusch were joined by Pastor Ted and Steve Peterson in this work. This group has brought a proposal to the church council that Zion conduct a capital campaign in the spring of 2010 with the help of a consultant, Kairos.

The church council has approved a special congregational meeting to be held on Sunday, February 21 at 11:30am in Trinity Hall to discuss the next Forward in Faith capital campaign.

More information will be mailed to voting members the week of February 8.

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3% “Forward in Faith” Gift to Hospice Care in Tanzania

December 17, 2009 — Angela

Three percent of our contributions to “Forward in Faith” is designated for special mission projects. Zion recently sent $2,778 to the ELCA Global Missions to be used by Dr. Kristopher Hartwig in administering hospice care in Tanzania. Kristopher is Dennis Murnyak’s brother-in- law and continues to work in Tanzania (Dennis returned home last year).

Kristopher wrote, “It’s very, very good news from our side that once again Zion is choosing to share with our work in Tanzania. It’s been a lean year for donations, as you might imagine. We would love to have the funds for training for four of our hospitals that have minimal support for hospice work—Karatu, Bulongwa, Ilula, and Lugala.”

This gift is another example of Zion’s far-reaching ministry. Thanks to all who contribute to our building fund and have participated in this generosity.

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Forward in Faith Mission Gifts

April 22, 2009 — Angela

Twice a year for the duration of the current Forward in Faith campaign, a 3% tithe has been given to a mission project selected by the Global Missions committee.

The final gift from Forward in Faith II, covering gifts received from November 17, 2008 to May 16, 2009 will be split five local charities: Buffalo Food Shelf, Faith in Action, Love INC, Rivers of Hope and Timber Bay.

This is expected to bring the total mission gift from Forward in Faith to over $40,000.

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Hospice in Tanzania

November 24, 2008 — Angela

Zion has made a commitment to donate 3% of income received through the Forward in Faith fund to a variety of mission projects on a semi-annual basis. The Global Missions committee selected the work of Dr. Kristopher Hartwig with Hospice Development in Tanzania for the May 18-November 17, 2008 gift.
Dr. Hartwig was in the area in November visited Zion to tell the Global Missions committee more about his work. If you missed that event, you can still catch Dr. Hartwig’s slide presentation at www.zionbuffalo.org/TZ

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Congregation Invited to Meet Dr. Kristopher Hartwig

November 6, 2008 — Angela

Dr. Kristopher Hartwig will be visiting Zion’s Global Missions Committee on Thursday November 13th at 7:00pm.  Kristopher is working through the ELCA in Tanzania on a Hospice Development Program.  Zion has given mission dollars to this program and the Missions committee has recommended giving our next Forward In Faith gift to this most important effort.  Kristopher will share with us how our donations have been used as well as what the need is for the future.  Members of the congregation are invited to attend this very informative and interesting evening with the committee.

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Mission Congratulations

April 18, 2008 — Angela

by Dave Wright

After 25 years of digging fish ponds, coddling Tilapia fingerlings with his farmer protégé, and negotiating the African bureaucracy, Dennis Murnyak and family are returning to the United States in July. You can find Dennis’s final report of their ministry here and a letter from Dennis here. It’s been an amazing journey and well worth the read. Our congregation has supported the Murnyaks financially and prayerfully since they began serving as missionaries in Tanzania in 1983.

This is just one of the many ways Zion has made a Christian impact on our international neighbors. We have sent approximately $30,000 to projects around the world from our building fund. Three percent of our contributions to Forward in Faith is ear-marked for missions. Each year Harvest of Hands commits thousands of dollars to alleviate suffering from hunger, and our Forty Days of Purpose has led to a groundswell of financial and social outreach locally. We can be proud of these efforts to act as Christ’s ambassadors.

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