We have a blog where we will be posting articles about the Ministry on South Street and where you can comment and ask questions.  

Not sure where the South Street campus (formerly Trinity United Methodist Church) is or what it looks like?  We have some photos and a map online, check it out and become familiar with the campus.

There are a lot of things happening at the South Street campus. Here is a rundown of some of the big things that have been happening. (Read More)

• On December 5, 2010 the First United Methodist Church of Winter Park Church Conference approved the Ministry on South Street (MOSS) as a second campus and ministry of our church.
• On January 13, 2011 the Florida Conference Committee on New Church Development approved funding for MOSS for a total of approximately $95,000 to be distributed over a period of three years.
• On Sunday, January 30. 2011, Trinity United Methodist Church held its last worship service.
• Per agreement with Trinity UMC and the district superintendant, organized ministry as Trinity UMC ceased on January 31, 2011.
• The property on South Street on which Trinity UMC sat officially became the second campus of FUMCWP on February 1, 2011 and began to be called the Ministry on South Street. A Transition Team was formed, chaired by FUMCWP Lay Leader Julie Cave, and is having regular meetings.
• Since February 1, 2011 many behind the scenes things have been going on, such as the filing of articles of incorporation, changeover of bank accounts, elimination of Trinity UMC signage, inspection of the buildings; transition of the on site preschool into a ministry of FUMCWP, inventory of physical items on site, conferences with the leadership of Work Force Advantage Academy Charter School about short and longterm space usage, conversations and relationship building with leaders in the community surrounding MOSS, meetings in regard to ministry development.
• Faith in Action weekend, April 29-May1, 2011, brought a lot of our church members to the South Street campus to do everything from spring cleaning to building a children's library. Check out the Faith in Action page for pictures from that weekend.
• 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.  
• On Friday, October 28, 2011, 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 has taught 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 FUMCWP 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.
• Jim has had conversations with FUMCWP members who own a plant nursery about future development of a community garden on the SS campus.

Resolution

Download the resolution that was passed by the Charge Conference in November 2010.

How Can You Help the Ministry on South Street?

• Opportunities are being identified for volunteers to be on site soon, working in various ways to help get the facility ready for ministry use. For more information contact Carol Smith at carols@fumcwp.org or Laura Toshie at laurat@fumcwp.org.
• God continues to give us exciting opportunities to serve him through serving people in Central Florida and in other places in our state, our nation and around the world. The Ministry on South Street is a new and major example of those opportunities.