Hands That Heal – The Church in Action

The Church is most powerful when faith is not only proclaimed from the pulpit, but demonstrated through acts of mercy and service. In some places around the globe, communities facing conflict, floods, displacement, and disease have experienced unimaginable hardship. Yet amid the devastation, the Global Methodist Church has continued to stand in the gap as a living expression of Christ’s compassion.

Through the work of Kingdom Advancement Disaster Response, the Church has extended hope to the vulnerable, bringing relief to families in crisis and reminding suffering communities that they are not forgotten. 

“Hands That Heal — The Church in Action” tells the story of faith made visible through service. It is a testimony of generosity, resilience, and the transforming power of compassionate ministry, while also serving as a call for the Church to deepen its commitment to disaster response and continue advancing the Kingdom of God through love in action.

For example, over the past six months, the GMC Disaster Response Team has stood as a beacon of hope across Africa, answering distress calls from communities shattered by floods, insurgencies, and disease outbreaks.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, families displaced by conflict found themselves without shelter or food. In Ethiopia, Madagascar, Kenya, Mozambique, and the Central African Republic, floods swept through villages, leaving hundreds of thousands homeless. Amid these crises, the Global Methodist Church did not turn away. Through the GMC’s heartfelt funding, teams were mobilize and distributed food, clothing, and emergency aid. The faces of responders in reflective vests became symbols of Christ’s love in motion, reminding communities that the Church is not distant, but present and active.

Each contribution, became a seed of hope – restoring dignity, rekindling faith, and reaffirming the Church’s relevance in times of suffering and crisis. These relief efforts were more than humanitarian gestures; they were ministry in action, revealing the Kingdom of God in tangible and transformative ways.  Every congregation, every believer has a sacred role to play in this work, because when the Church strengthens its capacity to respond, it strengthens its witness, credibility, and testimony before the world.

The story of GMC’s Kingdom Advancement ministry is not simply about providing aid; it is about advancing the Gospel through compassionate service and faithful witness.  As the Kingdom Advancement Commission continues its work, may the Church rise together in unity, generosity, and bold faith, so that when the next cry for help is heard, the Global Methodist Church will stand ready to respond—with healing hands, compassionate hearts, and the love of Christ made visible to the world. 

Rev. Linda Davis oversees the Disaster Response Team for the Kingdom Advancement Commission. She is also the Pastor of Boynton Chapel Methodist Church in Houston and an Elder in the Global Methodist Church with a background in labor and employment law and decades of ministry experience. 

Simon Mafunda serves as Africa Director for the Global Methodist Church, supporting ministry efforts across the continent through teaching, training, and leadership development. He is a Lay Leader for his home Conference in Zimbabwe and contributor to numerous church initiatives focused on mission and church growth.

Breaking News - In Session Now
GMC leaders from nine nations across West Africa are gathered in Abuja, Nigeria for ABLAZE training for church planting, Engage Mission Mobilization training, and an overview of disaster response. These leaders will return to their nations and multiply their training across their annual conferences. In June, ABLAZE training will be held in Nairobi for the conferences in east and central Africa.