First United Methodist Church

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"As servants of Christ we are sent into the world to engage in the struggle for justice and reconciliation. We seek to reveal the love of God for men, women, and children of all ethnic, racial, cultural, and national backgrounds and to demonstrate the healing power of the gospel with those who suffer." Book of Discipline, Paragraph 124

Mission outreach in the United Methodist Church is made even more effect because we do not work in isolation, but rather join hands with United Methodists around the world, and even partner with other helping agencies and faith groups to respond to human need.

United Methodist Committee on Relief: The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is the not-for-profit humanitarian agency of The United Methodist Church. UMCOR's mission is to alleviate human suffering caused by war, conflict of natural disaster - with open minds and hearts to all people. Since 1940 has been providing relief in disaster areas, aiding refugees and confronting the challenge of world hunger and poverty-- has helped to heal the hurts of humanity in nearly 100 countries.

UMCOR maintains a corps of trained disaster response specialists for quick reinforcement of national efforts and keeps a supply of relief materials in warehouses for dispatch when and where required. It also trains disaster response specialists in their own countries as part of a global ministry by a global church and works in partnership with other international agencies.

One Great Hour of Sharing: The One Great Hour of Sharing is observed by United Methodists on the fourth Sunday in Lent. A portion of our Church's offering has gone to the UMCOR "Sustainable Agriculture" project in Africa to help local farmers there to develop their own resources. Missions have also supported UMCOR efforts to fight hunger and desperate conditions in the Sudan/Darfur region.

World Service Fund: The World Service Fund apportionment (the share each annual conference or local church pays to support international, national and regional (annual conference) mission) is the heart of our denomination-wide presence, underwriting Christian mission and ministry around the world. It enables United Methodists to reach out through the general church boards and agencies.
Nurtured and funded by United Methodists, the World Service Fund apportionment:

Funds a network of missionaries and others who serve in the name of Christ and the United Methodist Church around the world.
Supports specific local church work with children, youth, singles, students, persons who are mentally and physically challenged, adult and older person.
Enriches our congregational life with worship, retreat and camping resources, leader training, and stewardship development
Provides leadership and coordination for denominational ministry with youth
Continues nearly 200 years of commitment to quality college and graduate education
Certifies Untied Methodist professional Christian educators, communicators and musicians
Assures United Methodists speak and work to help encourage a more ethical, just and humane world
Continues a proud tradition of cooperation and dialogue with other faith traditions through interdenominational and ecumenical work
Gives our denomination a presence in the mass media and makes new communications technologies accessible to the church, and
Expresses our commitment to God's reign through ministries of peace and justice, and efforts to build a church and a society truly inclusive of all persons, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender or handicapping condition.

For more information on FUMCSB's global mission efforts, please contact either via email:
» Pastor Hillary
» Pastor Alan