After the fair we spent several hours exploring the different displays set up by various ministries, General Board of Higher Education, General Board of Discipleship, General Board of Global Ministries, Cokesbury, ect. My favorites by far were the display about the history of inclusiveness in the church by the General Commission on Religion and Race and the international display by the Advance- our charitable giving program. The display about inclusiveness (photo to the right) included a self guided timeline equipped with video and audio clips of individuals or events highlighted by the timeline. At the end of the timeline was a "human race machine." I'm sure you know what I'm talking about you've probably seen one on TV before. It kinda looks like a mall photo booth, but instead of printing a picture of someone a la Van Gogh style it computer generates a picture of someone as a different race. Of course, Kathy, Glenn, and I all tried it out and we had a fun time laughing a ourselves. The message that I think they show fairly well is the beauty of each race's distinctive features. "There is no gene that determines race." The Advance display (photo to the left) featured life size replicas of ministries that are supported by the funds collected through Advance giving by United Methodists. Basically the Advance provides a whole catalogue of ministries and programs to support and each has its own distinct number. People may choose exactly which program to support and know that their money will go directly to that program. The display pictured left is of the Kissy Medical Center in Sierra Leone.
Just residing with hope, Margaret