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July 2025

United Women in Faith of West Ohio 

July Inspirations

We believe love in action can change the world.

Contents:

From the West Ohio Conference President

Those who know me understand this picture. I am a coffee drinker. So, get your favorite beverage, take off your shoes, put your feet up, and read my message. It will take a while because it includes thought and prayer. Today, I am going to talk about that nasty word—nominations. I once was a Nominations Chairperson, so I know what this job is like—sleepless nights and a lot of coffee. Yes, I heard it all: I’ve already done it; I’m just too old; not interested; I don’t have time; I do too much already; maybe next year; I don’t use the computer; I don’t drive; I don’t know how to do that. Okay, enough fluff. Our organization, United Women in Faith, is phenomenal. Think about all that we accomplish. All that we do. Women, youth, children, and men whose lives have been touched because of what we do. This doesn’t just happen. It happens because we said "Yes!" to help by taking one of the necessary positions that bring it all together. If you are still reading, then you must want to hear more. Sometimes we must step out of the box. Saying, “I don’t know how to do that,” doesn’t fly with me. I am where I am today because I was willing to give it a try. Did I like every office I tackled? No. But I learned and grew step by step, latching on to my strengths. Accepting an office doesn’t mean we give you the handbook and say, "Figure it out." There is a wealth of experience in our organization, knowledge of each office, its purpose, and how it needs to be fulfilled. We don’t expect you just to figure it out. There is training available, counterparts to work with, and a president—that’s me—to chat with. So here are the facts. For our UWF to continue to be at the top, helping those who need us, our Leadership Teams need to be complete. We need a woman passionate about Social Action, sharing the issues our organization deals with. Our Spiritual Growth leader starts our gatherings, helping us center and focus our thoughts on why we are together. What would we do without a secretary, taking our discussions and organizing them into an understandable document? Our Mission work depends on Mission Giving. Thankfully, we are blessed with women who have that financial brain. It’s not me. We work together. That’s why it’s called a Leadership Team. So…before you say, "No," to the call from Nominations, pray about it. If you have done it before, great. Your experience helps us move forward. If you haven’t done it, great. We need fresh ideas. Or even better yet, don’t wait to be called, you make the call asking what you can do. Want to talk about it? My door is always open. I’m always excited to know who our new officers will be. Hope it’s you.


Paula Nourse, Kinder6595@hotmail.com, 614-326-9062 (texting is good)

Mission Giving Letter from your Conference President


From: Paula Nourse

To: Entire Conference

Subject: A Call to Action on Mission Giving

Date: 6/19/2025


Dear Members of the West Ohio Conference,


I am writing to express my heartfelt thanks for all you have given to our sisterhood. In these uncertain times, your prayerful and financial support is changing our world for the better in ways our foremothers may have only imagined. In 1869, when those eight women in Boston grew a network and funds large enough to send Isabella Thoburn and Clara Swain to India, they began a legacy of love that you help to continue through your pledges and gifts to mission.

 

How are your mission dollars at work?

Perhaps you’ve recently read on the United Women in Faith website or in response magazine about how our deaconesses demanded justice in the Philippines and how their work led to the arrest of a ruthless president. Or maybe the article about Bethlehem Centers, our National Mission Institution in Nashville, showed you how vital Mission Giving is to the seniors who depend on them for their next meal and the children who learn there. Did you see the story about Imayam Social Welfare Association in India, where we’re helping to decrease the school dropout rate and let young women know they don’t have to fall victim to child marriage and abuse? Mission Giving made that possible!

 

Recently, we heard from Rev. Madot Merove, Pastor of the Haitian Community in Springfield, Ohio, and how we can help the Haitian immigrants.

 

When your pledges and gifts to mission are combined with those from sisters from within our conference, we fuel a mission that transforms lives! But there is more work to do and more love to share. Will you share your love by fulfilling your pledge early this year and/or increasing your giving, thereby helping our conference meet its yearly pledge? The need to make mission possible is as great as it has ever been. I know that together we can fill some of the gaps left by these difficult financial times.

 

With your pledge, you are in loving solidarity with thousands of women of faith who are ensuring the continuity of United Women in Faith’s vital mission efforts here and around the world.

 

Thank you for all you do to put love into action. Please reach out to your district treasurer to fulfill your pledge early, increase your gift, or donate online. (Our conference will be credited for online gifts!)

 

In deepest gratitude,

 

President, Paula Nourse, West Ohio Conference, United Women in Faith

Opening Ourselves to Social Action:

This Month – Leadership


“The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building. By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care.”


1 Corinthians 3:8-10



“We equip women for leadership:

  • In our sisterhood, we lift each other up.

  • We equip women and girls around the world to be leaders—in their communities, agencies, governments, and churches.

  • We are committed to ensuring these opportunities reach women of all races and ethnicities, across every language and economic group.”


 

Several years ago, UMW added a fifth category to the Reading Program: Leadership. Why? One of our core tenets has always been training women and girls to use their gifts in service to our organization, and consequently, in other areas of the UMC and missions. The new category adds skill training, stories of past and present women leaders, and motivation—all sharing confidence and experience for the instruction of other leaders.

 

God has blessed us with wonderfully dedicated, inspiring women leaders through the years. One of their important jobs has been encouraging new women to keep UMW/UWF fresh, active, and alive with new ideas, new methods of communicating, and new steps for continuing our mission work around the world. To keep UWF going, we have the Legacy Fund—doing very well at present!—but also, we need women to step up and serve on teams in local, district, and conference positions.

 

Is God calling you to use your leadership skills for UWF? We have women to mentor you. Plus, the Reading Program and response magazine offer inspiring women’s stories to keep you interested and eager to serve. And the key to it all? A team of women who offer prayer, support, and friendship will be right there with you! Consider this invitation as an opportunity for Social Action with sisters in a world that needs us as vessels, pouring out God’s love on a hurting world.

 

Becky Ruple, WOH Social Action Coordinator

BOOKS TO INSPIRE


Here are some books from the Reading Program you might find motivating as you plan on educating yourself and encouraging others.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charter for Racial Justice Event

“Lift Every Voice: Dialogue Across Differences”

 

We welcome Melvin Barnes, Ohio Humanities, to help us continue our theme of "Lift Every Voice: Dialogue across Differences." We will focus on learning about the “Marching Mothers of Hillsboro, Ohio,” an event from 1954 that centered around standing up for equal and better education for their children. He will talk about our school systems today and actions for us to take in our communities.

Additional Support for HCSS


If you or your units are interested in assisting members of the Haitian community in the Springfield, Ohio, area, we invite you also to consider donations of food items to the Covenant United Methodist Church Food Pantry. The button below links to a downloadable list of the food items that are needed for migrants and locals in the community of Springfield. The address of the church, for delivery of physical items is:


Covenant United Methodist Church

529 Johnny Lytle Avenue

Springfield, Ohio 45506

Telephone: (937) 324-3501


Rev. Merove notes that in addition to food items, funds are also appreciated to pay for migrant associates via LegalShield coverage under his organization, HCSS. As noted in the CRJC article above, monetary donations can be sent through https://www.haitiancss.org/. Monthly LegalShield fees are: single person membership - $30.00 monthly; family membership - $40.00 monthly. Funds may also be sent to help those who are not working pay for rent and utilities. We ask that you please indicate for which purpose any funds are intended so that HCSS can appropriately record donations for income, expenditures, and taxes.


If sending food items please call the Covenant United Methodist Church office at the number above to make appropriate arrangements for delivery.



IF YOU HAVE SIGNED UP FOR VIRTUAL MISSION u, PARTICIPANT INFORMATION WILL BE COMING NEXT WEEK!

 

Virtual Sessions: Via Zoom (same curriculum as in-person Mission u)

Wednesdays,  7/9, 7/16, 7/23, 7/30 (7:00 - 9:00 p.m.)

Thursdays, 7/10, 7/17, 7/24, 7/31 (10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)


Reading Program with West Ohio


Our collaboration with The West Ohio Conference continues, led by Julie Carter, Director of Faith Formation and Lay Ministry. Each month, the Expanding Connections Book Club meets via Zoom to discuss the month's book selection. In this new partnership, we are inviting our UWF community to join people from all over West Ohio as we Expand our Connection with one another and people we haven't met yet. Each month's book selections will be diverse, accessible, and empowering. This community of readers will be a hub promoting equality, equity, and inclusion and sharing the stories of the world to generate empathy and peace through books. Books will be announced on the 15th of each month, and a time for gathering and sharing will take place around the same time.


National Mission Institutions


National Mission Institutions are community-based organizations and social service agencies that were almost exclusively founded by women in the 19th century to serve marginalized communities and populations across the United States. Today, United Women in Faith remains connected to these community centers, colleges, and residences providing vital services in vulnerable communities. National Mission Institutions empower women, care for children, support seniors, educate youth, provide housing for domestic violence survivors, and offer residences for special needs children and youth. National Mission Institutions also advocate for the women, children, youth, and families in the communities they serve.

 

Learn more about the Mission Institutions in West Ohio—their histories, missions, and how you can serve and support the vital work they do:

 

National Events, News, & Resources


The National Office has many interesting events and gatherings such as Faith Talks, Voices of the Field, Podcasts, and Webinars. Go to the United Women in Faith website to find out more and to subscribe to their digital communications to stay up on the latest scoop by clicking here.


Important Information

Join us in celebrating all the ways we inspire, influence, and impact our churches and communities with our 2023 Annual Report. We will share the 2024 Annual Report once it is made available.

The United Women in Faith Board of Directors approved the organization's 2025 budget at its fall board meeting. Check out our report.

United Women in Faith continues to call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the Middle East. Read our statement.

We join our friends at the General Commission on Religion and Race to condemn false claims against migrants and call for action against racism and xenophobia. Read the full statement.

Support United Women in Faith


Please consider increasing your Pledge to Mission, both individually and from your local unit! Gifts to Mission make it possible for United Women in Faith to carry out its vital work to connect and nurture women through Christian formation, leadership development, creative fellowship, and education so that they can inspire, influence, and impact local and global communities.

The Legacy Endowment Fund


The most recent total of contributions to the Legacy Endowment Fund was $49,169,311 as of the end of January 2025. We anticipate making our goal of $60M by the end of the quadrennium in 2028. To learn more about this fund and how you can give to keep United Women in Faith strong for the future, go here.


The goal for this year's Day of Giving 2025 was $450,000, and an astounding $553,826 was given!

Learn about All-Access Membership

 

All Access provides easy online availability to resources nationwide. Customize your experience and access more ways to put love in action. Because love in action can change the world. Learn more.

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