One Great Hour of Sharing

One Great Hour of Sharing Offering – March 10, 2013

Through One Great Hour of Sharing, United Church of Christ members reach out in the name of Christ to:
•Build sustainable communities. OGHS supports self-help programs in more than 80 nations to build sustainable communities that enable people and communities to stand against and rise above hunger, disease, illiteracy, and other forces of injustice that deny and destroy dignity.

•Respond to disaster. OGHS provides emergency and long-term assistance to people in the aftermath of hurricanes, tornados, storms, floods, tidal waves, fires, explosions, technological disasters, civil strife, war, or other natural or human-caused events. On average, OGHS responds to a disaster once every 2.5 days.

•Minister to refugees. OGHS responds with advocacy and help, hope and hospitality for people who have been uprooted from their home of origin. More than 30 million of the world’s people are uprooted at any given time.

More than 60 percent of the UCC’s offering supports international development initiatives, including annual support for approximately six missionaries working in health care, education, and agricultural development. Gifts are also used for disaster preparedness and response, refugee and immigration advocacy and assistance, and disaster and refugee related volunteer initiatives.