Signs of Hope - Global Connections

In January 2009, The Africa University Choir will be in concerts of praise and worship at two United Methodist locations in the Baltimore region. The first concert will be at Mt. Zion UMC in Bel Air, MD, and the second will be hosted by a group of six Baltimore city congregations at Ames Memorial UMC in west Baltimore. These two events point to the connectional nature of the church, and the value of ongoing partnerships in ministry – both locally and globally.

Mt. Zion is a congregation that has become known for its extraordinary generosity in mission - having established an orphanage and school in Namibia – the Children of Zion Village - where many of the children living at the orphanage are infected with HIV/AIDS. The church’s work has been recognized by the White House, and local and national media.

The six Baltimore city congregations that will host the second concert, four of which are part of Communities of Shalom in Baltimore - Ames Memorial, John Wesley, New Covenant, Monroe Street Churches - along with Mt. Washington-Aldersgate Churches, are each engaged in vital ministries that offer hope, shalom and transformation in communities challenged by poverty, violence, drugs and dis-ease in the city.

It is no small irony that these six churches have chosen to share in the opportunity to connect with the choir from Africa University. Africa University - a Pan-African, United Methodist-related institution - is located in Zimbabwe a few miles outside of Mutare. In June 1999, almost 10 years ago, I, along with Bishops John Schol, Felton May, Marcus Matthews, and Peggy Johnson and about 20 others, was privileged to visit Africa University, and parts of Mutare. It was a life-changing experience for me.

A part of our work in Zimbabwe involved providing training for several congregations to become Communities of Shalom. One of these Shalom Zones was established at the Hilltop UMC in Old Mutare Village. I recall walking through the community that sits below Hilltop Church. The community was unlike anyplace I had ever been in America. It was obvious that all of the people in the neighborhood lived in abject poverty. There was no running water, no electricity, and no sewage system. In the midst of this, the people welcomed us into their neighborhood with kindness, warmth, and signs of peace.

I also recall walking back up the hill to Hilltop Church, and looking down into the neighborhood that we had visited, and realizing that it was the church that offered real hope for that community. The Shalom Zone at Hilltop would offer hope for children affected by HIV/AIDS, educational opportunities for those who would otherwise not have access to schooling, and the means of addressing numerous other real needs. In the years that followed our visit, the Baltimore-Washington Conference and the Multi-Ethnic Center for Ministry continued to support Communities of Shalom in Zimbabwe, along with other churches and the Africa University through ongoing mission support, educational support and technical assistance.

The visit of the Africa University Choir to the Baltimore region in a few days will afford yet another opportunity to witness the church at work through our global connections.