Many women know about, volunteer in, and collect materials for institutions begun over the years by women to meet special needs of women, children, and youth. The programs of these nearly 100 community centers, schools, and residences are now related to the Community and Institutional Ministries Program Area of the General Board of Global Ministries . They provide care for young children and for older adults, create programs to alleviate hunger, help young people with special needs to reach their full potential, and work to change unjust conditions in neighborhoods and states. Through the Women's Division Committee on International Ministries with Women, Children, and Youth in cooperation with other General Board program areas , United Methodist Women members share in mission on five continents outside the United States. This mission includes child care, health care, scholarships, leadership development, empowerment of women in all areas of their lives, and advocacy for support services by and for women and youth.
Special attention is given to support of persons in mission .
Some of these are missionaries recruited and commissioned within The United Methodist Church who serve as requested by colleague churches. Others include persons in their own countries and persons in mission from one country to another. The Pledge to Mission links local units of United Methodist Women with each other, with more than 50,000 congregations around the world that are related to The United Methodist Church , and with a wide variety of ministries done in the name of Jesus Christ.