2024 Missions

MISSIONS AND SOCIAL CONCERNS 2024 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”.

Education
Human rights issues affecting San Jose, our nation, and the world are addressed. Our outreach encompasses global famine and suffering, war, sexual orientation, homelessness, and natural disasters. Missions promotes the cultural identity of Japanese-Americans by partnering with Yu Ai Kai Senior Center and the San Jose Betsuin. Missions publicizes our community events and acknowledges contributions through newsletters and beneficiary websites.

Volunteer Opportunities
1. On May 19 Wesley participated in the 40th 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 $ 950.00.
2. The success of the Wesley Golf Tournament and Silent Auction on August 5 was made 
possible with the help of thirty volunteers who served the lunch buffet, provided snacks for 72 golfers, and donated table decorations and items for the Silent Auction.
3. Yu Ai Kai’s Mochitsuki in December is an all-church event. Approximately twenty volunteers assisted in their annual golf tournament on August 29 at The Villages in San Jose.
4. 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.
5. Approximately 20-25 volunteers assisted Compassion Ministry in preparing meals for the unhoused, Tuesday food distribution, and Grant Elementary School functions.
6. Sixty volunteers of all ages participated in our Rise Against Hunger dried food packaging event on November 9. The food is sent wherever there is hunger and suffering.

Fundraising
Missions Committee is not included in the Council of Ministries’ annual budget. Thus we are dependent upon two or three successful fundraising events annually. The community is always invited to attend a luau, 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 $14,530.00 with seventy-two golfers and twenty lunch guests attending. The Silent Auction netted $3,700.00 for our VBS and youth camps.

The Wesley Jazz Ensemble directed by Wayne Adachi entertained 110 music lovers on May 4 to an evening of favorite songs from “Nostalgia to Now” that raised $6,800.00.
 
 
Revenue received for 2024
Wesley golf Tournament         $ 14,530.00
CROP Walk from congregation         950.00
“Nostaglia to Now” musical & dance  6,800.00
Other donations (estimated)         1,200.00

Distributions for 2024
Through the faithful generosity from church members, friends, and community supporters,
Missions made the following disbursements in 2024:

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: 10,100 meals (dried food packaging event  )                4 ,100.00
4. Friends of Asian Rural Institute (global agricultural training center, Japan)      500.00
5. Church World Service (worldwide relief aid) CROP Walk              1,000.00
6. Noto, Japan earthquake disaster relief UMCOR                            1,000.00

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. WUMC Compassion Ministry       $ 5,000.00
2. Wesley VBS and youth camps         1,850.00 each from Golf Tournament Silent Auction
3.  Yu Ai Kai Senior Center              1,500.00
4. Sacred Heart Community Services      250.00
5. Martha’s Kitchen for the unhoused     250.00
6. Second Harvest Food Bank             250.00
7.  People Acting in the Community Together 500.00 assisting in discrimination, housing etc.
 
Events Planned for 2025
Bay Area CROP Walk to end Hunger with Almaden Hills UMC in May
Wesley Golf Tournament in August
Western BBQ & Line Dancing with Yu Ai Kai TBD
 
Respectfully submitted by:
Ed Gibo and John Tanaka (co-chairs). Members: Doris Tabuchi, Judy Yasutake, and
Judi Kanemoto. Ministerial advisor: Mark Teagle.