Bishop’s Christmas Offering for Children

A Letter from Bishop Trimble

Brothers and Sisters,

I greet you warmly in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Jesus loves children. We can read countless stories of the special affinity Jesus had for children. Mark 10:14 tells us, “He took the children in His arms, placed His hands on them and blessed them.” And Jesus gave a harsh warning to those who would cause harm to the growth of a child.

This year, because of our deep love of children, First Lady Racelder and I launched Children Matter Most, an initiative designed to encourage churches to get involved in the lives of children and raise awareness about childhood trauma, abuse, and neglect.

It made sense, then, for the theme of the Bishop’s Christmas Offering for Children this year to coincide with our Children Matter Most initiative.

Will you help make a difference in the lives of children around the world this year? Raised funds will be divided to meet the needs of the following ministries:

• Impact 2818, the Indiana Conference camping ministry
• The 3 Indiana United Methodist-related children and youth homes: Bashor United Methodist Home, Indiana United Methodist Children’s Home, and United Methodist Youth Home
• Local outreach projects
• United Methodist advance projects (national and global)
• Bishop’s fund for emergency children’s project and the promotion of this offering

Please join with me in giving whatever amount you may feel led to give toward this long-standing and life-changing ministry.

Especially this Christmas season, I invite you, your family, and your community of faith to join me in praying for children in Indiana and around the world…because children matter to God and are precious in God’s sight.

On behalf of the countless children whose lives will be changed as a result of this offering, I thank you. May you be blessed for being a blessing as we work to provide spaces where children are valued, cherished, supported, and have the opportunity to experience the love of God.

Be encouraged,

Bishop Julius C. Trimble
Resident Bishop
Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church

Please send your Bishop’s Christmas Offering for Children, payable to Indiana Conference UMC and mail it INUMC … Mark in the memo: Christmas Offering. Thank you!