| Church DevelopmentThree New Missions
Take Shape
By Dr. Montfort C. Duncan Jr.,
Executive Director, Church Development
 Florida
is a reflection of the diversity of the many races and cultures of people who call the
United States home. Our conference is becoming more and more a reflection of that same
culture. This diversity is evident in the kinds of new missions started this last annual
conference.
Upon approval of the Florida Conference Cabinet, the Conference
Committee on New Church Development and Church Redevelopment, and three district boards of
mission and church extension, three new missions were started this June. Three pastors
were assigned to begin and give spiritual leadership to these missions, each of which has
a different and unique target audience they will be seeking to reach.
Christ’s Community Mission, Miami, is being designed to become a multicultural
community of faith. With the eclectic nature of Miami, this mission will have the
possibility of reaching people from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. This
diversity is planned to be part of its DNA. The Rev. Jacques Pierre has been appointed
pastor..
New
Hope Fellowship Mission, Orlando, is being designed to reach the postmodern generation
living in or near the downtown Orlando area. This is a new kind of church start in that it
is being planned to reach a target population, not a geographical area. With the exception
of the funding from Church Development for pastoral expenses, the budget for this mission
is being raised by the pastor. He was the designer and proposer of both the target
audience and the method of funding.†The Rev. Thomas “Jack” Jackson has been
appointed pastor.
Filipino Mission Fellowship, Melbourne, is being designed to reach an ever-growing
Filipino population in this part of the conference. Our sisters and brothers from the
Philippines are discovering that Florida is a wonderful place to live. Many are moving to
the Melbourne area to call home. We want to be open and welcoming to these new residents.
The Rev. Sol B. Madlambayan has been appointed pastor.
God continues to open doors for Florida United Methodism to be
faithful disciple-makers of Jesus Christ. It is our intention to join God where God is
already at work in our midst.
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