Africa University Choir Making the Connection

By Tamica Smith Jeuitt and Rev. Dr. Connie Shelton, Mississippi Conference Communications

Photo right: Two male members of the Africa University Choir browse through clothing at the Edwards Street Fellowship Center Thrift Store in Hattiesburg, Miss.     
 
Photo below right: The Africa University Choir performs June 4, 2015 during the Mission Service of the Mississippi Annual Conference session.    
 
Call this a story of the connection at its best!  
 
The Africa University Choir took a stop from their tour of the Mississippi Conference to shop at the Edwards Street Fellowship Center Thrift Store.    
 
Established in 1979 as an outreach ministry of the Hattiesburg District of the Mississippi Conference of The United Methodist Church, Edwards Street Fellowship Center serves an urban community on the southeast side of Hattiesburg. The ministry is centered on the commitment to strengthening families and individuals and meeting special needs in the community. The money made from sales supports programs of the Edwards Street Fellowship Center.  
 
According to the center's executive director, Ann McCullen, members of the choir came to their store to buy luggage to replace their broken suitcases. To their surprise, the store manager allowed them to take whatever totes they needed and gave them a $10 credit to spend in the store.  The mutuality of  United Methodist sisters and brothers from another continent appreciating the viable ministry of Edwards Street Fellowship Center is a reminder of the gift of the connection.
 
The Mississippi Conference has entered a partnership with Africa University to create scholarships for students attending the United Methodist related university. Africa University is the recipient of the 2015 Mission Offering that will be received at the Mississippi Annual Conference session on June 4. The choir will be performing during that service. For more information about the partnership, click here. To find out locations where the choir will be performing in Mississippi, click here.