Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
"The Great Commision" - Matthew 28:18-20 NIV

The Viroqua and Westby United Methodist Churches believe in the importance of the Great Commission and the command by Jesus to go to all of the ends of the earth.  Therefore we are committed to Global Outreach.  With so many vital global ministries out there, it is often hard to support them all.  Our churches have chosen a few great ministries (listed below) that not only help others, but also shares the love and message of Jesus Christ with people around the globe.

During the autumn, the Westby UMC youth Sunday school and the congregation work together to prepare boxes for Operation Christmas Child (OCC). Operation Christmas Child is a ministry project of Samaritan’s Purse which delivers gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 150 countries. The youth and congregation bring in a wide variety of items to pack in the boxes.  There are small toys, books, small articles of clothing, crayons, coloring books, and hygiene items. Each of our Sunday school students also write a personal note to the recipient of the shoebox.  We have started to use plastic boxes so the children can use them to carry things, such as water, after they open the box. The students pack up the boxes, which are then delivered to a drop-off site in the area. This group ministry project has been taking place for several years and an average of 15-20 boxes are sent out each year.  If you would like to join us in this fantastic global outreach, we encourage you to check out the Operation Christmas Child website, ask about it during our worship services or simply send us an e-mail at westby@viroquawestbyumc.org.

The Viroqua United Methodist Church supports a missionary in Zambia, Africa, named Temba Nkomozepi.  Temba is originally from Zimbabwe.  He is serving as an agriculturalist at Mujila Falls Agriculture Center in Kanyama, Zambia. He was commissioned in October 2017.  You can learn more about Temba from the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries website:  https://umcmission.org/missionary-bio/3022400/

Mujila Falls is in Zambia, Africa. The Mujila Falls Agriculture Center receives support from the Viroqua United Methodist Church. This mission center was begun by Paul Webster, a United Methodist pastor from Wisconsin. Today it is run by his successor Temba Nkomozepi.  The goal of this center is to help the Lunda people to feed themselves.  Paul has often described this part of Zambia as “Eden”, a beautiful garden that can support its people.  You can learn more about Mujila Falls from the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries website:  https://umcmission.org/advance-project/15016a/

UMCOR is the humanitarian relief and development arm of The United Methodist Church and seeks to strengthen and transform people and communities.  The organization works to alleviate human suffering and advance hope and healing around the entire globe.  It is often the first organization to appear following a disaster and remains there to help the people long after other more well known organizations have departed.  UMCOR's administrative costs are completely covered by the apportionments given by United Methodist Churches around the world meaning that 100% of any funds donated to the organization from people like you goes directly to helping people in need around the world.  All of our churches are honored to support such a vital global ministry not only through our apportionments but also through missional giving as well.  If you would like more information on UMCOR and what it is doing around the world, feel free to check out the UMCOR website!

Special Sundays are designated Sundays throughout the year that provide opportunities for giving. These special offerings are earmarked, and support designated ministries.

On these Sundays, we empower our congregations to give toward causes and organizations that promote sustainable life change.

These offerings help offer refuge in times of disaster, promote peace and justice, provide scholarships, reach out to the community, teach skills to encourage self-sufficiency, and share the love of Jesus Christ with God’s people everywhere.

Here’s the calendar of Special Sundays for the year:

♦ Human Relations Day – Sunday before Martin Luther King, Jr., Day
♦ UMCOR Day – 4th Sunday in Lent
♦ Native American Ministries Day – 3rd Sunday of Easter
♦ Peace with Justice Day – 1st Sunday after Pentecost
♦ World Communion Sunday – 1st Sunday of October
♦ United Methodist Student Day – last Sunday of November