| Demographic study gives church a clue |
Within the next five
years, the Hispanic /Latino community will be the fastest growing population in the
Florida Conference, but only one-fourth the size of the conference’s population of
seniors aged 70 and older.
That information came from a recent demographic study done by
the Percept Group Inc. in California and commissioned by the Florida Conference’s
Committee on New Church Development and Church Redevelopment to help the conference decide
where to plant new churches and how to revitalize existing ones. Full Story |
Children’s Home opens
two new buildings
 The ministry of the Florida United Methodist Children’s Home took three
steps forward with the official opening of two new buildings — the Bruton Counseling
Center and the Waller-Jeter residential cottage — and the renovated Hardin Hall at a
dedication service here Nov. 17.
Named for its benefactor, the
late judge James D. Bruton Jr. of Plant City, the Bruton building was built on the site of
the old administration building at the front gates of the campus. It has allowed
children’s home administrators to consolidate the counseling staff, improving
communication and resource sharing among staff members. It contains offices for staff
members and rooms for group, individual and play therapy. Full
Story |
Cuba finally gets Spanish-language hymnals
It took nearly four years of effort and involved people from three nations, but as of Nov.
4 nearly 9,000 Spanish-language hymnals were on their way to Methodists in Cuba.
In conjunction with the renewed relationship between the Cuba and
Florida Conferences, leaders of the two met in 1994 to discuss ways they could minister to
each other.
“They [the Cubans] told us that among their top three priorities
was the need for hymnals that reflected the spirit of worship of the people and the
liturgy of the United Methodist Church,” said Larry Rankin, director of the Florida
Conference’s Council on Ministries’ Missions ministry office. Full Story |
Church grows
by addition
How does a church go from declining to ministering…from losing people to winning
families for Christ? According to Jorge Acevedo, pastor of Grace United Methodist Church
here, the answer is addition: adding new services and ministries that add new people and
resources.
“I believe in change by addition,” Acevedo said.
“We’ve added new stuff without taking anything away. It’s not as painful
that way.”
What the church added is a new contemporary worship service and
Grace Kids, a children’s worship experience, which he described as “the best of
vacation Bible school, children’s church and Sunday service.” Full Story |
Opportunities
United Methodist Communications
offers scholarships, fellowships
Gift of Hope:
21st Century Scholars program helps students
Society seeks gleaning leader for
Florida |
Get it in Print - send story
ideas on local church news to Tita Parham
or Michael Wacht online.
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Other Stories
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Don't Forget
Summer Camp
Leaders Needed
1999 Seminar for
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Florida Southern College
