ALCOA, Tenn. (Feb. 16, 2015) -- Holston-related ministries received relatively small donations during the online “Giving Tuesday” opportunity offered through The Advance on Dec. 2, 2014.
The General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM) reported that more $2.5 million was donated online during the designated 24-hour period, supporting more than 770 projects and missionaries through 8,700 financial gifts. The GBGM matched the first $1 million in gifts to help build excitement and leverage donations.
In Holston Conference, the mission with the largest “Giving Tuesday” total was Jubilee Project in Sneedville, Tenn. The Hancock County agency received $4,957 in donations in December 2014, along with an extra $275 in matching funds. The total was culled from 23 separate gifts, more than half from Holston members.
In Marion, Va., Project Crossroads received a total $150 without matching funds.
Among Holston’s Church & Community Workers, Mark Stransky of Project Crossroads received a total $375, with an additional $50 in matching funds. Rev. Koni Purscell of Big Stone Gap District received $25. Brooke Atchley of Tazewell District did not receive any recorded donations.
Among international ministries receiving Holston support, Czech Republic in Mission Together received a $3,600 gift from the Johnson City District. “This is the amount that the Johnson City District pays through the Advance each year as part of our partnership with the Czech District,” said Administrative Assistant Betty Barton. A $2,500 matching fund was received, the limit per gift.
The English-Speaking United Methodist Church of Prague received three gifts totaling $500 from Holston donors, in addition to $400 in matching funds.
Gifts received throughout the denomination for South Sudan ministries included a total $690 for Micro-Finance Empowerment (plus $500 in matching funds); $400 for Education (plus $30 in matching funds); $250 for Bee Keeping and Animal Livestock; $225 for Health Empowering All Lives (HEAL); and $125 for Shalom Ministry for Orphan Care.
Several large amounts were donated by members from Holston churches, including:
$2,000 from First Broad Street UMC for Baltic Methodist Theological Seminary
$2,000 from First Broad Street UMC for United Methodist Church Extension Project
$1,000 from First Farragut UMC for Society of St. Andrew
$1,000 from First Oak Ridge UMC for William Harry Lovelace
$1,000 from First Maryville UMC for English-Speaking UMC in Vienna
A mission with a campus located in the Holston Conference, Henderson Settlement, received a total $48,646 with an additional $14,445 in matching funds.
See 2014 Giving Tuesday report provided by GBGM.
See also:
UMC Giving Tuesday shows strength of a denomination united (GBGM, December 2014)
Holston ministry leaders grateful for Giving Tuesday results (The Call, 1/13/14)