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Local Church News

The Florida Conference is home to hundreds of local churches, ministries, clergy and lay members dedicated to making a difference in the world. Check out the stories below to see how they are sharing ideas and making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Have a story to share? Email webadmin@flumc.org or click here to use our convenient “Submit a story” form.

 

 

January 29, 2016

Churches to host 'Night to Shine' for special needs

Three Florida Conference churches help shine God's love on special participants with a Tim Tebow-sponsored prom.

January 22, 2016

Bitten by anti-malaria bug: Mandarin UMC

The infection started with the church youth and spread far enough to save more than 1,600 lives.

January 15, 2016

Pub Theology ministry fills niche

A beer garden may strike some as an odd place to find worship and spiritual discernment, but for one church, it's where the people are.

January 08, 2016

Hyde Park teacher receives Lockmiller award

A preschool teacher who has taught at least four generations of youngsters and inspired parents as well is honored by the Florida United Methodist Foundation.

January 01, 2016

Church celebrates 170 years of Methodism

A small country church celebrates its founding in 1845, during the frontier days of Florida.

December 30, 2015

Local churches make news for Christmas Day outreach

At least two Florida Conference congregations make news for providing feasts and gifts to those in need on Christmas Day.

December 28, 2015

FSU Wesley embarks on rebuilding

Demolition of a chapel dating to the 1970s will make way for a new 15,000-square-foot, multipurpose structure for the campus ministry.

December 25, 2015

Alternative market keeps Christ in Christmas

John Wesley UMC celebrates a big milestone in the program that emphasizes giving over getting at Christmas.

December 18, 2015

Wesley windows inspire poetry

Jill Bergkamp, a poet and children's ministry director, reflects on "reading" the stories told in stained glass.

December 11, 2015

Blessings of Bethlehem still bountiful

Nearly 1,000 turn out for "Bethlehem in Monticello" – and that doesn't count camels Jeremiah and Amazing Grace.

December 07, 2015

ToyMakers makes TV news

ToyMakers of East Lake, an outreach of East Lake UMC, Palm Harbor, makes and distributes tiny wooden toys to children in need.

December 04, 2015

Packed with prayers, shoeboxes go global

The kids at Wellspring UMC got the Christmas gift ministry rolling, and the whole congregation got behind it.

November 27, 2015

Congregation steps up to new worship style

It's Native American Heritage Month. Wesley Memorial UMC learns a new worship style with help from Florida group, Sacred Thunder Drum.

November 20, 2015

Pumpkin bread baked with care – for community

First UMC, Lake Wales, supports a faith-based community care center with Thanksgiving treats and more.

November 13, 2015

Church puts 'dry' back in drywall

Community UMC, Fruitland Park, is among volunteers who turn out to rescue the home of a Korean War veteran.

November 06, 2015

They were here: helping tiny lives endure

A mother's heartbreak leads to a Memory Box mission to ease parents' pain when newborns don't survive.

October 30, 2015

Community festival models Christian unity

Two churches – one United Methodist, one Baptist; one Anglo, one African American – team up to give the community a special day of fun and fellowship.

October 23, 2015

This spud's for two: the mother-child connection

Trinity UMC's baked potato fundraiser in Gainesville helps inmates stay in touch with their children through the Mommy Reads ministry.

October 16, 2015

Wesleyan in word and deed: Hank Lunsford

A devoted disaster recovery volunteer, he lives by John Wesley's words: "Do all the good you can."

October 14, 2015

In the spirit of World Communion

Church members unite to welcome 40 new members on World Communion Sunday.

October 09, 2015

Truckin' 'em in for family night

A Tampa congregation books food trucks to treat families to dinner and a movie – at church.

October 02, 2015

Church outfits kids with new shoes, full bellies

Trinity UMC, DeLand, matches a Florida Conference Lockmiller grant to launch 'Sneakers 4 Kids.'

September 25, 2015

In their own backyard and beyond

Members of this Sebring church are on a mission to make disciples, change the world.

September 18, 2015

Opting for Table service

Spiritual nourishment at The Table in Brandon is convenient without resorting to fast food.

September 11, 2015

'Prayer bears' spread God's love, lift spirits

Stuffed bears carry the prayers of a Florida congregation to those in need. It's a low-cost ministry for churches of all sizes.

September 08, 2015

Orlando Serves recruits community volunteers

First UMC, Orlando, seeks to sign up neighbors helping neighbors in this expansion of the SundayServe concept.

September 04, 2015

Message in a bottle

After seeing children at a bus stop in sweltering heat, a congregation launches a campaign to provide them with bottled water.

August 28, 2015

With this BMW, who needs horsepower?

Brevard Mission Week at Suntree UMC, Melbourne, turns youth camp into a loud proclamation of Jesus' love.

August 21, 2015

Music, God's universal language

A Tallahassee church's quest for an organist leads to answered prayers for both the congregation and a musician from the Ukraine.

August 14, 2015

Open hearts, open worship

Inverness congregation turns the loss of its church sanctuary into new ways of sharing Christ's message with the community.

August 07, 2015

Church blesses community with free, remote blood pressure checks

Satellite Beach UMC partners with community organizations to give paramedics a way to remotely monitor patients' blood pressure – for free.

August 03, 2015

Church starts its own clergy debt relief program

Killearn UMC, Tallahassee, comes up with its own version of "Passing the Torch," a Florida Conference program aimed at helping recent seminary students reduce education debt.

July 31, 2015

Strawberry fields forever? Not for these kids

Volunteer tutors led by Nancy Plate of St. Andrew's UMC, Brandon, help children of migrant farmworkers tap into education for a better future.

July 27, 2015

'Pied' in the face

VBS students at Grace UMC, St. Augustine, celebrate extravagant generosity in the form of llamas for people in need.

July 20, 2015

Special time in Nicaragua

An 11-year-old tells a story of finding friendship, generosity and common interests in a community vastly different from his hometown.

July 17, 2015

God's game of dominoes

A trip to Argentina for youth from First UMC, St. Petersburg, leads to an up-close look at Pope Francis' ministry in Rome.

July 13, 2015

Lifelines to go

Families in need line up for food at the monthly Tice UMC mobile pantry, a partnership between the church and a local food bank that keeps the community fed.

July 06, 2015

Making connections: the power of Legos

A Florida Conference congregation discovers a great outreach ministry for all ages in those little interlocking plastic blocks.

June 29, 2015

Even the littlest ones

A crowd gathered to celebrate Village UMC's prekindergarten graduation witnesses the power of prayer when a child stricken by stroke walks in to collect her certificate.

June 22, 2015

A literal mission field: Cornerstone community garden

A couple's love for the land spreads to a UMC across the road and launches a ministry that feeds the community and cares for the environment.

June 12, 2015

'Crockpot ministry' takes God's love to the lost

Volunteers from First UMC, Starke, take church and fellowship to Lost Valley Campground, along with meals served hot from the crockpot.

June 05, 2015

Angels take wing from island church

Tiny, hand-crafted angels carry the prayers of a congregation for people in the armed forces or others in harm's way.

May 29, 2015

25-year-old signing choir is more than a passing gesture

Mary Harris was looking for a way to make a difference when she heard God's call to start a signing choir for the deaf and people with impaired vision.

May 22, 2015

Lake City church celebrates 175 years serving the community

First UMC, Lake City, is one of more than 35 churches celebrating milestone anniversaries that will be recognized at Annual Conference.

May 18, 2015

Artist: Sharing gifts is part of God's plan

Yvonne Krogulski's artwork not only graces St. John's UMC's Angels Care Clinic and Project Love, but she provides free art lessons too.

May 11, 2015

Small gift carries huge message for Jesus

A United Methodist congregation seals its ministry of emergency aid with a "wear and share" cross pendant necklace for everyone.

May 08, 2015

Peace UMC gives back to congregation and community

Volunteers turn out to help their Orlando church and community on an April weekend designated for service.

May 04, 2015

Weary Wesley students fortified for exams

The Florida Conference and Florida United Methodist Foundation team up to serve breakfast and prayers to students during exam week.

May 01, 2015

UMM to the rescue with Tool Belts United

Rev. Steve Painter and Northeast Florida United Methodist Men team up to offer free TLC to aging church buildings in the North East District.

April 30, 2015

Educating women in Haiti

A young adult on a mission trip discovers a specific health need for women and raises the funds to address it.
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