Missions

Services

Due to COVID-19, we will livestream every Sunday at 9:45 a.m.

LOVE GOD, LOVE PEOPLE, MAKE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS

FUMC Missions supports ministries that also share our passion to love God, love people, and make followers of Jesus. Your designated giving supports one local, one national, and one international program each year.


AN UPDATE FROM MISSIONS

As with most things of 2020, there have been many changed plans for the missions’ teams this year with their much-anticipated trips and fundraising events canceled due to the global pandemic. The teams spend so much time preparing for the trips that it saddens them all to not be able to go and serve as they felt called. In the coming months, leaders will decide on new dates for 2021 and look forward to serving our mission partners in Butler, Texas, and Honduras as the Lord calls.

In Butler, Fishbone Ministries has resumed their gatherings with the kids from Butler. A First Church team of volunteers visits there monthly to serve food, and there will be new serving opportunities arising in the coming months.

In Texas, activities are ongoing for the Soldiers’ Hospitality House but are almost exclusively held outside in the scorching heat, due to the rise in COVID cases. They continue to hold bible studies outdoors and online with local and deployed soldiers, and they are focusing this month on growing their worship team. They seek prayers as they are trying to establish at new Saturday outreach ministry on post at Fort Hood.

Our partners in Honduras report little change. With a rise in severe cases of COVID, hospitals are overrun with sick people laying in the streets. Strict curfews remain in place, with one person per household allowed out of their home twice a month to buy food or medication. With lack of work and no welfare system, many go hungry. On a positive note, the local community we support received funds to repair the town’s water line which means more people have access to water, and they were also able to repair the town’s boat so a few people can fish and share their catch with the townspeople.

Please keep all of these mission partners in your prayers, as they strive to serve their communities in new ways, and for those they serve who have great difficulties to overcome.

LOCAL: FISHBONE MINISTRIES

Fishbone Ministries is located in the Island area of Butler. Since 2002, Fishbone has served children of all ages, providing a space where children and youth can gather throughout the week to learn about God, have fun, eat together, and receive emotional and spiritual support. First Church has a small team of volunteers that help with some of the programs, and we regularly hold drives for some of
their physical needs, such as backpacks and school supplies.
Learn More

NATIONAL: SOLDIER'S HOSPITALITY HOUSE (SHH)

SHH is a ministry of Cadence International, an evangelical mission outreach for active military and their families based at Fort Hood, Texas. SHH is led by Ben & Melody Bloker and it is a “home from home” for soldiers—a place for fellowship, bible studies, worship, and general support. They also share bible studies online with soldiers when deployed around the world. In 2020, First Church is sending our first
mission team to SHH to help with maintenance on the property.
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iNTERNATIONAL: HONDURAS MINISTRY

We have been sowing seeds of faith in Honduras since 2013, and we are currently supporting community development and mission work in the town of Punta Gorda. This is led by Justin and Ashley Guest and their goal is to work alongside local leaders and educators to empower the community of approximately 5,000 people. This holistic approach includes teaching job and life skills, health and nutrition, and providing bible studies and small groups. Each year, a mission team from FUMC supports their work, visiting Honduras to provide some of the skills, labor and materials needed.


Honduras Mission Trip: June 26-July 3, 2021

In June, 2021, a team of up to 14 people from First Church will serve in the community of Punta Gorda, a small town in Honduras that is suffering greatly from poverty that was intensified by recent pandemic restrictions. We have been partnering with the missionaries there, Justin and Ashley Guest, for many years, and we look forward to growing the relationship with them. During the trip, there will be opportunities for members of the team to do construction projects, work with the people & children, run VBS, and potentially in other areas too.


Want to be on the team?

October 3 onwards: Application forms available at the church and right here.

Sunday October 18, 11am Crossfire: Informational meeting for all who are interested
Sunday December 18: Applications & deposit due

 

Involvement

If you’d like to be involved but don’t feel called to travel to Honduras, we appreciate your prayers for the team, the missionaries, and the people in Honduras.  You can also financially support the team and be involved with our fundraisers.


Checks are payable to FUMC with Honduras Trip in the memo.

 

Questions: Please contact Danielle at discoveryattic@yahoo.com (724 290 4910) or Debi debikrger@yahoo.com (724 234 9220)

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HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT MISSIONS

Prayers are always appreciated for the work done at each of these ministries—for the leaders’ energy and direction, for the people who need the ministries, and for the love of God to touch them all. Your time and energy—if you’d like to serve alongside any of these missions, please contact us or look for information in the church bulletins. Announcements are made several times a year. Financial and other donations—monthly contributions can be made and must be designated to “Missions” to be included in the mission fund. We also hold collections through the year for specific needs for each of these ministries. These will be promoted in the bulletins through the year. Use the button below to give to the Missions fund. Be sure to choose the Mission Fund from dropdown box.
GIVE TO MISSIONS HERE