Mission Update

Last Sunday’s effort to raise funds to support the families in our Panua ministry was a great success.  All of the families received sponsorship and there were additional donations given to help support staff working with the ministry.  Our congregation will be supporting financially and making contact with well over 400 young people who are on their way to being able to live life as self-supporting members of the community in Naivasha, Kenya. 

Recently I wrote an update for our South Street Ministry for the district and conference leadership and I thought you would be interested in it as well. 

• Pastor Jim Berlau has developed a relationship with Patty Sheehan, the City Commissioner for that district, and representatives of the Orlando Housing Authority and efforts are being made to work in partnership in the community.
• Jim has developed a good rapport with residents of Reeves Terrace, and has been attending their residents association meetings.
• Inroads have been made with the two elementary schools in the community to get to know guidance counselors and gain insight into the needs of children in the community. 
• The South Street Ministry has offered a community Vacation Bible School, Science Day Camp, Sports Day Camp, a summer and now school year ongoing tutoring program.
• The South Street campus was a summer feeding site, offering breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday for children who receive free breakfast and lunch during the school year.
• The South Street Ministry sponsored a back to school bicycle safety and fun day at Reeves Terrace, staffed by volunteers from the community and from FUMCWP.  
• Last Friday on a day off from school the South Street Ministry offered an all-day event for children in the community that involved games, trick or treating, and a time of Christian teaching, staffed by volunteers from the community and from FUMCWP.
• Jim and about twenty-five volunteers from FUMCWP have been trained through a course called “Dignity Serves” designed by Phil Hissom, President of the Polis Institute, an urban ministry consulting group in Orlando.  
• Currently Jim is teaching the Dignity Serves course to a group of twenty young adults (20-something’s) at FUMCWP.
• There is a South Street Ministry presence on Facebook and we are working on a web site and newsletter that will be up soon.
• A weekly Bible study comprised of folks from the former Trinity UMC meets on the South Street Ministry campus.
• People in the community are stopping by the South Street Ministry campus, seeking out Jim for pastoral care.
• Much work has gone into bringing up the quality of the preschool and a new director has been hired who is a resident of the SS community.  
• Much effort has gone into bringing the Director and staff of the Work Force Academy in sync with the South Street Ministry and plans are underway for joint efforts between the two entities.  Jim has developed a strong, positive relationship with Work Force Academy Director Ken Hartsaw.
• Jim has preached at FUMCWP twice, has had other worship leadership roles three times, and has visited numerous Sunday School classes and other small groups to get the word out at FUMWP and cultivate a volunteer base.
• He has organized volunteer opportunities for FUMCWP volunteers to do hands on work to beautify the South Street Ministry campus.
• Plans are underway for an upcoming volunteer day on the SS campus that will bring together members of the community and folks from FUMCWP to work together to beautify the SS campus.
• There is an upcoming “health day” on the calendar in November aimed at assessing the health needs of senior citizens in the SS community.  
• Jim has had conversations with FUMCWP members who own a plant nursery about future development of a community garden on the SS campus.

As our vision statement puts it, FUMCWP clearly is on the move to make a difference through Jesus Christ in the greater Orlando area and around the world. 

See you in church!

Grace and Peace,