A mission outreach opportunity is featured each month.

November's Mission Focus:

Bishop's Emergency Appeal Offering for Hurricane Ike Relief

by Bishop James Dorff

Why did Hurricane Ike change its mind at the last minute and besiege our neighbors in Galveston and Houston? As we have no ultimate explanation as to why Ike was shoved to the east, we also have no explanation as to why we were spared and those next door were not. We do know that suffering is not isolated or solitary.

What happens to us one day could (and will) happen to someone else tomorrow. Life is upon us: the rain, the wind, the bright sunshine, and gentle breezes. Our faith makes it clear through the life, death, and resurrection of Christ that we live in sacred community. We are bound together. When one cries, we all cry. When one laughs, we all laugh. When one has lost everything, we've all lost something.

How can we respond to the millions of people who have lost all material goods and who despair over the daunting task of starting over again?

We can pray.
We can reach out to those we know and love in the affected areas.
We can make a special offering of ourselves by responding to the Bishop's Emergency Appeal.

Please join Barbara and me in giving generously and immediately to provide at least some relief, in the name of the One who calms the seas, to those in need. All money will be split between UMCOR and our neighbors in the Texas Conference.

The Joy of Service

by Sharon Ford and Kathy Hess

Picture of women and gifts at Kitchen Shower

The pastor and ladies of Manantial de Vida (Living Water of Life) UMC were overjoyed by the generosity and love of the people of Coker UMC and University UMC at the Church Connections-sponsored Kitchen Shower on October 18. They would like to express their grateful thanks to all the "sisters" and groups who responded to their need.

Many individuals donated items from their own kitchens, and many new items of commercial grade were purchased with funds donated by the Mission Committee, 6 adult Sunday School classes, a UMW Circle, a Bible study, and Church Connections. This small congregation, on San Antonio's south side, wanted to reach out to their community with fellowship dinners. Those who have participated in making this vision a reality have been faithful disciples. By helping this Methodist church spread the Word of God, many here in San Antonio who are hungry for the Bread of Life will have their bodies and spirits filled.

The outpouring of love resulted in a variety of items given. The ladies were ecstatic to have received: 9 dozen each of plates, bowls, forks, knives, and spoons; serving bowls; trays; a serving cart; a warmer; steam pans of various sizes; stock pots; table cloths; vases; glasses; a blender, microwave, utensils, food processor, crock pot, roaster, mixer, trash can, colander, carving knives, cup towels, oven mitts, coffee pot, beverage servers, and pitchers. Wow--you get the idea! Everything that they needed, God saw that they received! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Best of all was the party itself and the relationships we now have with our sisters in Christ!

Habitat House #5

The anticipation and excitement continues to grow as Coker builds its 5th Habitat home.
How you can help:

Please consider how you might participate in this year's fall build--either through working at the construction site or providing lunches. Please click here for more info on Coker's fall build.
Also, please be in prayer for this year's build, for our family, and for those who will commit their time and resources to provide simple, decent and affordable housing to another San Antonio family.

Let's all work together to make Coker's 5th home the best ever. Thanks for all you do.

-Scott Matkin

Angel Food Ministry

Main Menu Package: $30

No remaining November sign-ups

November Distribution: Saturday, November 22 from 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM

For more information on Angel Food, please visit coker.org/angel.

Angel Food Coat Drive

The Coker Angel Food Ministry is asking for donations of gently-used coats, jackets, sweaters, and athletic shoes. We will be accepting the coats on Sundays, or items can be placed in a box in the church office. These items will be available to people during the November 22 and December 20 distribution dates. Many people were blessed by last year's coat drive.

Many Thanks, Coker

The Guyana Mission team thanks all the members of Coker who supported us on our mission trip in April. The prayers, dresses, calendars, monetary support and all the other items too numerous to mention helped to make our trip a rewarding experience. In the 6 years that Coker has been sending adult teams to Guyana, we have established relationships and connections that truly demonstrate that we are all God’s children. We were able to take medicines and clothing to the children at Ruimveldt Home. We were blessed to conduct a 3-day Vacation Bible School at the Hope Orphanage as well as do some concrete work on the new building. We visited with the men in recovery at the Phoenix Center and delivered educational and spiritual materials as well as some needed computer equipment. We purchased benches for the patios at the Holy Family Home and put in a prayer garden for each building. We took dresses made by our Coker seamstresses along with toiletry kits to the senior ladies at the Holy Family Home. Some of the ladies were wearing the dresses from last year and told us they were still praying for the ladies from Coker who had made the dresses. On our last day some of the ladies were wearing the just delivered new dresses for the Communion Service conducted by Pastor Sharon. As we were leaving the last day one of the ladies gave us a note that read, “I love you all. Jesus is in Charge” signed Moarvena Sydney. The “you all” she was referring to is the Coker congregation that makes these trips possible, and the Guyana team members join Moarvena in saying “We love you all. Jesus is in Charge”.

If you would like to consider going on the next Guyana trip, please contact any member of the Guyana team or call Sandy Cooley, 764-0521, and we will add you to the email list for information about our 2009 trip.

To read the Guyana team's travel journal, click here.

From Coker to Cameroon and Back

by Mike Ford

Then I heard the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? Who will go for me?’ And I answered, ‘Here am I; send me.’

--Isaiah 6:8

It is a small, thirty-member congregation of blue collar men and women and their children and grandchildren. They meet in an unlocked rented room, without electricity, partially open to the elements, lighted only by sunshine and the members’ spirits, located in Yaounde, Cameroon, W. Africa. In mid-January 2008 six Coker UMC members blended with those saints at Peniel UMC to witness God’s love and grace to Peniel’s surrounding community -- one team, one church.

For three full days visitors to eye clinics, dental hygiene classes, and first aid and CPR classes were warmly greeted, respectfully treated, assisted by patient Christian translators, comforted by caring Christian souls, and invited to worship in Peniel Church. Children who could not see a blackboard now can. Grandparents can see their grandchildren’s faces once more. Seniors can again read their Bibles. Mothers can save choking babies. Friends can help save friends’ lives. A community recognizes a loving, active church.

Africans and Americans prayed, sang, danced, worshiped, ate, and talked and worked together as sisters and brothers in Christ. Our hearts overflowed with joy and our spirits were lifted high by Peniel’s members. We traveled to answer prayers and to be a blessing. We returned blessed with greater understanding of God’s call to us to be in service to others.

Experience the joy. Take the next step on your spiritual journey. It is not as difficult as you may think. All you have to do is show up. God does the rest.

The Joy of Service

by John Estes

I would never have thought that I would find some of the most wonderful Christians in prison! Serving God in prison is one of the most wonderful things that has happened in my life. Having some small part in helping a man turn his life over to Christ and away from crime is just too joyful to explain in words. If you have been thinking of looking for a new place to serve the Lord, the KAIROS ministry needs you, and this might be the perfect place.

95% of our Texas inmates will leave prison on parole or "served time." Around 85% will go back to prison. They will do this by committing more crimes, and they are living in our communities! Less than 10% (in some prisons less than 4%) of those men that accept Christ re-enter prison. The answer is so very simple. When Christ dwells in all of us, we are changed forever. If you are interested in a new opportunity to serve God, please call me (John Estes) at (210) 481-1927. We need you. There is a man behind bars that is waiting to find out about Christian love.

Jesus said, "I was in prison and you came to visit me," and "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." (Matthew 25:36; 40)

Mission opportunities abound in our local area and beyond. Have you or someone you know felt God’s call to participate in a Coker mission trip, but felt you could not afford the cost of the trip? Now, thanks to special gifts from members, Coker has a mission scholarship fund to help. This fund is intended to help cover the costs of children, youth, and adults participating in mission trips.

For more information, please contact Cathy Johnson (charles_cathy@sbcglobal.net; 494-3915), Mary Anne Waldrip (maryanne.waldrip@coker.org; 494-3455, ext. 269), or one of the pastors (494-3455, church office).

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231 E. North Loop Rd.
San Antonio, TX 78216-1896

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