The holiday Shopping hype is already cluttering mailboxes and shopping malls. Does secular materialism suck the oxygen out of your Advent and Christmas preparations?

You may be wondering—what can we do together to offer a life-and-light giving alternative to the glitz and hype of Black Friday, Cyber Monday and other shopping promotions?

Observe Tuesday, November 29—Giving Tuesday —when United Methodists come together to support the work of Advance projects like our very own Dakotas Conference Solar Oven Partners.

Photo: Two cooking pots in the solar oven with the third pot following, is a demonstration of the power of sunshine and capacity of each oven you give to feed a family. Photo courtesy of SOP

In the past, Global Ministries offered matching funds to motivate giving. This year, while matching funds will not be available, we want to remind our generous supporters that 100% of your designated Giving Tuesday gifts reach Solar Oven Partners and other Dakotas Advance projects like Tree of Life Ministry  and UMVIM-NCJ.

The Giving Tuesday web links above facilitate easy online giving (just click GIVE NOW) and allows your church to receive credit for these individual or group gifts.

Stay tuned for resources to challenge members, friends, groups and classes to get excited about these end-of-the-year gifts that matter so much. Organize a challenge for 24-hour giving on November 29 under the theme Give Light, Give Love, Give Life.

Photo: Training local trainers, not only for solar cooking but also for oven assembly, provides Dominican leadership and direction for project sustainability. Photo courtesy of SOP.

More resources are coming soon for November 29—Giving Tuesday.