HURRICANE 2001

METHODIST CHURCH IN CUBA HURRICANE RESPONSE

Dear Members of the Family of God,

Last Nov. 10-11 Hurricane Michelle, packing winds as high as 130 miles per hour, slammed into western central Cuba. Miraculously only seven people died. Crops, dwellings and public buildings suffered heavy damage. The Cuban people are already affected by the weakened economy and limited
opportunity for a quality of life.

The Methodist Church in Cuba suffered heavy losses in the Matanzas and Central districts. Of 68 churches and houses churches and missions, the Matanzas District loss nine house churches and received heavy damage to three churches and 12 house churches and missions. The Central District suffered heavy structural damage in nine churches and house churches.

Bishop Whitaker and the Conference on Finance and Administration have approved a special opportunity for Florida Conference churches to collect a free will offering for the Hurricane Response for the Methodist Church in Cuba. You may select a day for collecting the offering and then send it to the Florida Conference Treasurer through the local church remittance form and designating the offering Methodist Church in Cuba Hurricane Response.

More than ever we are committed to manifest the special Covenant between the Cuba and Florida Conferences. Even as we have been blessed by the spiritual strength of our Cuban sisters and brothers, they need us to respond so that they may reopen their houses of worship in order to continue their powerful ministry among the lost and least.

The offering will be sent as an Advance Special through the United Methodist Mission channels and will be given special track handling so that the funds will reach Cuba as quickly as possible to meet their urgent needs. Your local church will be credited for supporting the Advance Special for Christ and His Church.

May you experience the blessedness of the Babe in the Loft and Manger, who continues to save the world.

Larry Rankin
Director for Mission and Outreach
Florida Conference United Methodist Church