Global HOPE newsletter to provide quick links to helpful resources

A tornado strikes a small southern town. What resources are available to help United Church of Christ congregations respond with clean-up efforts?

UCC summer camps start preparing for a new season with opportunities for young adults to volunteer. Where does one go to sign up?

The continuing war in Ukraine means financial gifts used to help displaced families are still greatly needed. How does one contribute to the ongoing UCC Ukrainian appeal?

The UCC Global HOPE team are providing such answers in a new quarterly email newsletter which launched this month.

“The intent for the Global HOPE newsletter is for it to be a resource where congregations can easily find quick links to current and new volunteer opportunities, disaster grants, and financial appeals,” said Andrew Long-Higgins, Global HOPE Team Leader.

In addition to providing links from the Disaster Response and Recovery Ministry and Volunteer Engagement Ministry teams, the newsletter will also cross promote the work being done across the United Church of Christ.

“Because of the intersectional nature of the work we do, links to other UCC national ministries, such as links to action alerts from the Washington D.C. team, will be included,” said Long-Higgins. “The Global HOPE newsletter can connect the wider church to what others are doing.”

For instance, Long-Higgins says that in the event of a disaster, there’s the hands-on response, but there are also the financial needs as well as the call to advocate for government assistance programs in times of crisis and/or to create policies that mitigate climate-related disasters.

Long-Higgins says this intersectional approach for the newsletter is about meeting people where they are.

“Not everyone is in the position to physically volunteer, be in touch with their elected officials, or are able to give financially. We want to provide options,” he said, adding that now more than ever, “There’s a deep desire among the wider church to find ways to engage in the moment that we are in.”

The debut edition of the newsletter introduces the Global HOPE team, which has been in transition for the past two years, welcoming Long-Higgins as Team Leader in 2024, Katie Howe, Minister for Disaster Response and Recovery in late 2023, and Danielle Hickman, Minister for Volunteer Engagement in 2024. The search for a Refugee and Migration Minister is currently underway.

To sign up for future editions of the Global HOPE newsletter, click here.

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