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Category Archives: Missions

Coming Soon!

 

Please join us on Saturday, March 7 from 9:30 to 3:00 PM at Pender United Methodist Church for a powerful women’s retreat enabling you an opportunity to engage in corporate and individual worship and prayer.

The retreat is designed to bring women together for spiritual growth, personal reflection, and fellowship. The retreat Unshakable Faith will offer two powerful sermons, workshops, and a healing and anointment service that addresses, hope, healing, renewal, and overcoming doubt to stand firm in the midst of your trials.



Narcotics Anonymous, founded in 1953, is a “nonprofit fellowship or society of men and women for whom drugs had become a major problem.”

Similar to Alcoholics Anonymous, this will be part of Pender’s Recovery Ministry

Our vision is that one day every addict in the world has the chance to experience our message in their own language and culture and find the opportunity for a new way of life.

Needed:

  • Prayer Warriors … Pray for the support team. Pray for those fighting their addictions.
  • Support Team… Sign up to welcome and be available on a Monday evening.

Alpha Youth!

Unpack the basics of the Christian faith together. No pressure. No judgement. Just open conversation over some good food. That’s it. Come along, see what you think.

Adults, we need you!

  • Facilitator.
  • Assistant.
  • Meal prep.
  • Prayer leader.

This is a week-long hands-on mission trip for middle to high school teenagers that introduces the youth to spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ through missional living, confronting issues of social justice, and completion of a hands-on project in Philippi, West Virginia.

Adult volunteers are also needed to assist and support the youth.

This year’s trip begins Saturday July 17, 2026


Get ready to turn your next summer VBS into an unforgettable adventure with Snowball Mountain Challenge VBS 2026!

Snowball Mountain Challenge invites kids to an exciting winter sports event where they become Challengers, gearing up for frosty games, snowy surprises, and hands-on lessons about resilience and faith. They will come to realize that with the strength God provides, they can share their gifts, be brave, give their all, pray, and hope.

Your kids will be guided daily by the energetic Activities Director and the lovable Ollie the Arctic Seal puppet, who is reporting on the events. Challengers aren’t just playing games. Using their Challenge Companion (the Bible), they learn to draw strength from their faith through powerful stories, while connecting the learnings to Bible Stories and Lift Lessons (Key Learnings). With a unique winter theme and solid theology at its core, Snowball Mountain Challenge VBS delivers joy and meaning in equal measure, teaching kids that “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13, NRSV).

Bring your church family together to experience Snowball Mountain Challenge. Your VBS program will be transformed into a mountaintop experience filled with laughter, life lessons, and lasting faith. As children face their challenges and discover their strength in God, you’ll hear them say, “Challenge accepted – with God I am strong.”

 

 

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Missions Update: Ecuador

 

Please pray for Sharon Ranalli Folkhart serving in Ecuador.

Several years ago Sharon started a Child Development Center in a very poor area, setting up a sponsorship program, so that children can go to school, receive a lunch, afternoon tutoring and a Bible class. A Pastor moved into the area and working with Sharon, they built a church and are presenting the gospel to these people who have never before heard the word. Now they are again praying and planning for the new school year, getting uniforms made and buying shoes, school supplies.

The project will continue this school year with 25 children.  Multiple requests to Compassion International that they take over this project are finally being considered by new leadership in Ecuador. Compassion will ensure that which Sharon and her fellow workers have sown will be taken care of in the years to come. Sharon shares that it is hard to explain in a letter the brokenness of the families of these children, the obstacles and traumas that they face at such young ages.

Ecuador is going through a time of great violence, kidnapping for ransom, and robbing churches and people, gang fighting, drug cartels, store closings, etc. Please pray for Ecuador and for the safety of Sharon as she continues her ministry that began here with a Bible Institute in 1985.

 
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Posted by on May 23, 2023 in Missions, Pender UMC, Videos

 

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Flood Buckets

Update November 4, 2022

Thank you for your generous support of building the flood buckets. Pender completed 11 buckets and we had extra supplies to donate also.

There was even show and tell with some of the Burke UMC preschoolers. The kids were very interested to see what was inside the buckets and what they were for. You’re never too early to learn about missions.


Pender United Methodist Church is requesting that each family donate ONE item in support of our assisting our neighbors in Florida and Puerto Rico who are working through the devastation and impact of natural disasters, specifically hurricanes. It is our hope that everyone will join with us in assisting to build flood bucket cleaning kits that will assist the families.

All items must be new.  All cleaning agents must be in liquid form. No powders can be accepted. Items for donation may not be imprinted with cartoon characters, advertisements, religious, patriotic, military, or camouflage symbols.

Requested Cleaning Kit Materials:

One Five-gallon round bucket with lid (14.35″ h x 12.19″ w x1)

  • No screw lids
  • This may be used, but it must be free from all residual product
  • Advertisements on the outside are acceptable.
  • No patriotic or religious symbols are to be displayed.

One 32-64 oz. bottle liquid laundry

One 16-40 oz. bottle liquid concentrate household cleaner (please, no spray cleaners)

One 16-34 oz. bottle liquid dish soap

One 4-8 oz. pump spray air freshener

One 6-14 oz. pump spray insect repellent (pack of 10-20 wipes also acceptable)

  • Pump spray bottles must have protective covers

One scrub brush (with or without handle)

18 re-usable cleaning wipes

  • No terrycloth, microfiber or paper towels
  • Remove the packaging

Five scouring pads

  • No stainless steel or pads with soap on them
  • Remove from packaging

36-50 clothespins

One 50-100 ft. clothesline (cotton or plastic line)

24 roll of heavy-duty trash bags (33-45 gallon sizes)

  • Remove from packaging

Five N95 particulate respirator dust masks (1-3 mm thickness)

  • No surgical masks

Two pairs kitchen gloves

  • Durable for multiple uses
  • Remove from packaging

One pair work gloves

  • Cotton with leather palm or all leather
 
 

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Missions Conference April 30-May 1

Come and attend the Pender Faith Promise Missions Celebration on Sat. Apr 30 at 8:30AM-12:30PM and on Sun. May 1 at 9AM, Sunday School and 11:15AM Services.

Missionaries will share about their ministries in our Fairfax community, in the US, and internationally.

Our keynote speaker is Christine Hanak, an ordained UMC minister, and her husband, Charlie. They serve globally with Ambassadors for Christ International (AFCI). As you know, Chris is an ordained minister with the UMC, and we are thrilled to have her back at her home congregation where her missionary life began.

Austin and Sinte House will update us about their ministry in Thailand. Members from Campus Crusade (Cru) on the George Mason University campus will come share their testimonies. Enjoy inspirational music and songs!

Come and be refreshed in the Lord! Share some hospitality with our missionary visitors. Breakfast, lunch and refreshments with an international flair will be served in the Gathering Place.

We look forward to seeing you!

For more information, please contact Greg or Maya Berry, or the church office.


Pender United Methodist Church supports 150 missionaries in 32 countries around the world. Each year, Pender sends teams on short-term mission trips to Central and South America, Europe, Africa, and we’re always researching other trips.

 

 
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Posted by on April 29, 2022 in Ministries, Missions, Pender UMC

 

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Santa’s Ride Toy Collection

Pender Hill School is collecting toys for the Santa’s Ride program again this year. We are excited to work with the Fairfax County Police Motor Squad to collect new toys and books for children in local hospitals.

Items can be donated in the marked bins in the Church Lobby and the downstairs Preschool hallway until Sunday, December 12.

Please contact Ann Hines or Sarah Hocker with any questions.

 
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Posted by on November 27, 2021 in Get Involved!, Missions, Outreach, Pender UMC

 

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