|
REVIEW
Home Page
Florida Conference Home Page
General Board of Global Ministries
UM Information
UM Reporter
Florida Southern College
Bethune Cookman College
FL UM Children's Home
Bishop's Corner
The Cross of Christ
New Church Development
10 Best Development Practices
|
|
Conference aims to rebuild church in Angola
As many as 50 people from villages in the Quéssua area of Angola gather for worship each Sunday at Quéssua United Methodist Church. The congregation, like the building in which it worships, is a shell of its former self. Both show the ravages of more than 30 years of war.
The Florida Conference hopes to begin the process of rebuilding the Quéssua congregation by funding revitalization of the church building. This will also be the first step in helping the Eastern Angola Conference rebuild an area that was once the spiritual center of the United Methodist Church in Angola.
Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker in a letter to pastors and church leaders challenged the conference to raise $150,000 to fund the rebuilding of Quéssua United Methodist Church.
Full Story
|
Conference to vote on child protection policy
For many churches, being immersed in the journey of ministry is so consuming there isn't much time for embracing certain big-picture issues, such as legal concerns or the potential liabilities a church may face while operating its ministries.
Florida Conference leadership has been focusing on some of those big-picture issues and has discerned a need for many more congregations to have a plan or policy in place for protecting children and youth from various forms of harm.
The Child and Youth Protection Policy, unanimously approved March 1 by the Conference Council on Ministries (CCOM) and scheduled for a vote at the 2003 Florida Annual Conference May 27-31, calls for all churches and missions to embrace such a proactive plan.
Full Story
|
|
|
College students commit to make difference
"Suddenly I feel You holding me." That line began an annual weekend retreat for college and university students around the state of Florida that many attendees felt was inspired by the Holy Spirit, God-directed and student-led.
More than 160 students, campus ministers and staff gathered at the Warren Willis Camp in Leesburg Feb. 7-9 for the annual Florida Conference United Methodist Student Movement (MSM) retreat.
Students from nine Florida schools attended the retreat, which was designed to offer a weekend of intense spiritual devotion and fellowship.
"I wasn't quite sure what to expect; I was afraid I would be somewhat outcasted because, by comparison, I'm newer to the faith than most there. But…everyone I met greeted me with a smile…" Chris Hall, an MSM first-timer, said. "I met a lot of new friends and hope to keep in touch with most of them."
Full Story
|
|
Ex-soldier's memories spur new ministry
Roland McNulty, a member of Mims United Methodist Church in the Melbourne District, remembers his tour of duty with the Air Force in Vietnam, and he is using that memory to encourage other members of his church to reach out in love and prayer to the soldiers now deployed to the Middle East.
McNulty is helping lead a ministry at his church that is collecting the names and mailing addresses of American soldiers overseas and sending letters of prayer, support and encouragement to those servicemen and -women.
"I know what it's like to be away from your family and trying to figure out if you're doing the right thing," McNulty said. "My ministry toward the soldiers is my own personal feelings and knowing they need support…I want to encourage them that we're backing them 100 percent."
Full Story
|
Easter event attracts new members
The day before Palm Sunday about 25 members of First United Methodist Church, Seminole, will spend a few hours inviting neighbors to visit the church the next Saturday, the day before Easter. As many as 1,200 area residents will enjoy Easter egg hunts, pony rides, inflatable games, entertainment and food sponsored by the church. And if the pattern of the last nine years holds true, several of those residents will become members of the church.
Seminole's SpringFest has become "a big community event" since it began nine years ago, according to the Rev. John Denmark, the church's pastor. Its goal is "to be good neighbors to our community and share Jesus Christ with them," Denmark said. "The church has been here for 113 years, and people still think it's a strange place."
Full Story
|
I HAVE
NEWS
Submit your stories, story ideas or photos to Florida United Methodist
Communications.
|
|
|
|
Top
of this page
Comments
about this website?
© 2003
Florida United Methodist
Review Online |
|
|
|
