Missions
MISSIONS AND SOCIAL CONCERNS 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
Mission Statement
Missions and Social Concerns Committee’s Mission Statement is to provide education, volunteer opportunities, and financial aid to individuals, programs, and agencies who embrace Wesley’s motto of “Love God; Love One Another”.
Missions and Social Concerns Committee’s Mission Statement is to provide education, volunteer opportunities, and financial aid to individuals, programs, and agencies who embrace Wesley’s motto of “Love God; Love One Another”.
Education
Our outreach responds in numerous ways from violation of human rights to global suffering from famine, war, and natural disasters. In addition, we advocate for individuals who face discrimination related to sexual orientation, homelessness, or racial inequality. Missions promotes the cultural identity of Japanese-Americans by partnering with Yu Ai Kai Senior Center in those common thread events such as Day of Remembrance. Missions publicizes our activities and acknowledges contributions through newsletters and beneficiary websites.
Our outreach responds in numerous ways from violation of human rights to global suffering from famine, war, and natural disasters. In addition, we advocate for individuals who face discrimination related to sexual orientation, homelessness, or racial inequality. Missions promotes the cultural identity of Japanese-Americans by partnering with Yu Ai Kai Senior Center in those common thread events such as Day of Remembrance. Missions publicizes our activities and acknowledges contributions through newsletters and beneficiary websites.
Volunteer Opportunities
- On May 18 Wesley participated in the 42nd Annual Bay Area CROP Walk to end world hunger. Almaden Hills U.M.C. again hosted the Church World Service event. Twelve Wesley walkers joined eighty supporters from nine churches. Wesley contributed $ 2,800.00.
- The success of the Wesley Golf Tournament and Silent Auction on August 4 was made possible with the help of fifteen members of the Wesley Golf Tournament Committee and sixteen volunteers who served the lunch buffet, provided snacks for 72 golfers, and donated table decorations and items for the Silent Auction.
- Yu Ai Kai’s Mochitsuki in December is an all-church event. Approximately twelve volunteers assisted in their annual golf tournament on August 18 at The Villages in San Jose.
- Fifteen volunteers aided our Nichigobu by providing forty rolls of maki-sushi for Day of Remembrance, a Japantown Nichomachi Outreach Committee annual event on February 18.
- Approximately fifteen volunteers assisted Compassion Ministry in preparing meals for the unhoused, Tuesday Food Distribution, and Grant Elementary School functions.
- Sixty volunteers of all ages participated in our Rise Against Hunger dried food packaging event on November 8. The food is sent wherever there is hunger and suffering.
- Missions participated in the church-wide Trunk ‘N Treat last Halloween with over 500 children with families, and hundreds of other neighbors wanting to have a fun and safe night.
Fundraising
Missions Committee is not included in the Council of Ministries’ annual budget. We are
dependent upon two or three successful fundraising events annually to support our budget. The community is always invited to attend a luau, a Western Line Dancing BBQ, and special theme musicals with our Wesley Jazz Ensemble. The proceeds average $3,000.00 to $4,000.00 for the event. The Wesley Golf Tournament was held at Sunnyvale Municipal on August 5. The Wesley Golf Committee chaired by Wayne Kuwada raised $19,678.00 with seventy-two golfers and twenty lunch guests attending. The Silent Auction netted over $2,600.00 for our Vacation Bible School and youth camps.
Missions Committee is not included in the Council of Ministries’ annual budget. We are
dependent upon two or three successful fundraising events annually to support our budget. The community is always invited to attend a luau, a Western Line Dancing BBQ, and special theme musicals with our Wesley Jazz Ensemble. The proceeds average $3,000.00 to $4,000.00 for the event. The Wesley Golf Tournament was held at Sunnyvale Municipal on August 5. The Wesley Golf Committee chaired by Wayne Kuwada raised $19,678.00 with seventy-two golfers and twenty lunch guests attending. The Silent Auction netted over $2,600.00 for our Vacation Bible School and youth camps.
Revenue received for 2024
Wesley golf Tournament $ 19,678.00
CROP Walk from congregation 1,400.00
Other donations (estimated) 600.00
Wesley golf Tournament $ 19,678.00
CROP Walk from congregation 1,400.00
Other donations (estimated) 600.00
Distributions for 2025
Through the faithful generosity from church members, friends, and community supporters,
Missions made the following disbursements in 2025:
A. International:
1. UMC Global Missionaries: Rev. Claudia Gueung Yamamoto: Kyoto, Japan $ 1,000.00
2. Tengoku (Heaven’s Café in Kobe, Japan) UMCOR: serving the marginalized 500.00
3. Rise Against Hunger: 12,090 meals (dried food packaging event ) 5 ,100.00
4. Friends of Asian Rural Institute (global agricultural training center, Japan) 500.00
5. Church World Service (worldwide relief aid) via CROP Walk 2,800.00
B. National:
1. InterVarsity/Campus Crusade (Steven and Sherilyn Tengan, Directors) $ 1,000.00
2. Reconciling Network Ministries (LGBTQ organizational support) 500.00
3. Volunteers In Mission (Sager Brown UMCOR Relief Depot in Baldwin, LA.) 1,000.00
C. San Jose Area:
1. People Acting in Community Together 500.00
2. Wesley VBS and youth camps 1,281.00 each from Golf Tournament Silent Auction
3. Yu Ai Kai Senior Center 900.00
4. Sacred Heart Community Services 250.00
5. Martha’s Kitchen for the unhoused 250.00
6. Second Harvest Food Bank 250.00
Through the faithful generosity from church members, friends, and community supporters,
Missions made the following disbursements in 2025:
A. International:
1. UMC Global Missionaries: Rev. Claudia Gueung Yamamoto: Kyoto, Japan $ 1,000.00
2. Tengoku (Heaven’s Café in Kobe, Japan) UMCOR: serving the marginalized 500.00
3. Rise Against Hunger: 12,090 meals (dried food packaging event ) 5 ,100.00
4. Friends of Asian Rural Institute (global agricultural training center, Japan) 500.00
5. Church World Service (worldwide relief aid) via CROP Walk 2,800.00
B. National:
1. InterVarsity/Campus Crusade (Steven and Sherilyn Tengan, Directors) $ 1,000.00
2. Reconciling Network Ministries (LGBTQ organizational support) 500.00
3. Volunteers In Mission (Sager Brown UMCOR Relief Depot in Baldwin, LA.) 1,000.00
C. San Jose Area:
1. People Acting in Community Together 500.00
2. Wesley VBS and youth camps 1,281.00 each from Golf Tournament Silent Auction
3. Yu Ai Kai Senior Center 900.00
4. Sacred Heart Community Services 250.00
5. Martha’s Kitchen for the unhoused 250.00
6. Second Harvest Food Bank 250.00
Events Planned for 2026
A major decision was reached in October, 2025 that the Missions Committee will be combined with Compassion Ministry Committee effective January 1,2026. The result will be a more efficient use of people power with lesser emphasis on fundraising. Of course, there still be golf tournaments and luaus but the proceeds will be designated to the Wesley UMC General Fund.
Missions wishes to thank all who have faithfully supported Missions and our global outreach. You have made life changing and life saving impacts.
Ed Gibo and John Tanaka (co-chairs). Members: Doris Tabuchi, Judy Yasutake, and
Judi Kanemoto. Ministerial advisor: Mark Teagle.
A major decision was reached in October, 2025 that the Missions Committee will be combined with Compassion Ministry Committee effective January 1,2026. The result will be a more efficient use of people power with lesser emphasis on fundraising. Of course, there still be golf tournaments and luaus but the proceeds will be designated to the Wesley UMC General Fund.
- Bay Area CROP Walk to end Hunger with Almaden Hills UMC in May
- Wesley Golf Tournament in August
Missions wishes to thank all who have faithfully supported Missions and our global outreach. You have made life changing and life saving impacts.
Ed Gibo and John Tanaka (co-chairs). Members: Doris Tabuchi, Judy Yasutake, and
Judi Kanemoto. Ministerial advisor: Mark Teagle.
Posted in Charge Conference 2025