By: Christa Meland

Thanksgiving isn’t the only day for giving thanks. Why not kick off the holiday season by giving rather than getting?

The United Methodist Church’s Board of Global Ministries is inviting you to do just that—while doubling your impact—through “Giving Tuesday” on Dec. 3.

Global Ministries will provide matching funds, dollar for dollar, for the first $500,000 in gifts to Advance projects that are received online on that day. A maximum of $10,000 per individual gift will be matched, and each Advance project may receive a maximum of $50,000 in matching funds.

Hundreds of United Methodist projects and missionaries are working to fulfill our Gospel imperative to heal a broken world by providing basic necessities and hope to less fortunate individuals across the world. Their work is made possible thanks to support from their brothers and sisters in Christ. One hundred percent of donations given through the Advance go directly to the project or missionary being supported.

You may give to any Advance that you’d like to support. There are two that the Minnesota Conference is highlighting for your consideration:

International Disaster Response, Advance #982450: This Advance is helping to support recovery efforts in the Philippines following the devastating results of Typhoon Haiyan, which swept through the country on Nov. 8, displacing more than 600,000 people and killing nearly 4,000.

Feed My Starving Children, Advance #171282: The organization provides nutritious meals to children in nearly 70 countries around the world, and it aligns with a Minnesota Conference initiative to provide abundant life for all God’s children.

Here’s how to give:

1.       Between Midnight and 11:59 p.m. Dec. 3, go to www.umcmission.org/give.

2.       Enter the project or Advance number, or select a missionary you wish to support.

3.       On the page of the project or missionary you want to support, click “Give Now.”

4.       Follow the prompts on the donation screen, which include specifying the name of your church.

5.       Payment must be made online using a credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover are all honored).

6.       Your donation, up to $10,000, will be doubled (provided that some of the $500,000 in matching funds remains when you donate).

Note that you may give to multiple projects. Follow the process listed above for each project using the appropriate Advance number.

“Gifts made through The Advance can bring healing and hope to survivors of natural or civil disasters; help communities build churches, dig wells, feed and educate children, and equip hospitals and clinics; or support a missionary who is sharing the light of Christ,” says Bishop Hope Morgan Ward of the North Carolina Annual Conference, who is president of the Global Ministries Board. “I pray that December 3 will be a record-breaking day in the Wesleyan movement.”