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Recent Messages from Houseparents... |
"Why am I here at FUMCH? Why am I working here in God's Earthly Sanctuary of Hope? You and I are here at FUMCH because God has selected us through the means of His Holy Spirit to substitute for the Lovely Jesus in providing love, empathy, and compassion to broken and hurting boys and girls. Everyone's job here at FUMCH is very important to God...everyone! He needs us now in 2012... more so than ever since the inception of this great ministry of love in 1908. The Lovely Jesus is depending on us to do our part, faithfully, humbly, 24 hours a day, 7 days per week...until He comes back to take us all to Heaven." |
The Children's Home recently hosted on our campus the quarterly meeting of the Governor's Faith Based & Community Council. It was a pleasure to have them on our campus and to share our ministry with them.
Our new maintenance building continues to progress.
On March 31, 2012 we opened a new foster care office at First UMC in DeLand, Florida. This state of the art facility is a tremendous resource for our foster families. A big thank you goes to Rev. Owen Strickland and the entire congregation for their love and support.
Morrison UMC in Leesburg, Florida is hosting a unique fund raiser for the Children's Home.
Anyone in the Leesburg area is invited to share in the joyous occasion of a "Hillbilly (Womanless) Wedding" ceremony joining Miss Petunia Delight (played by Pastor John Harrington) and Mr. Broadus Heifer (played by Joel Witt) on Sunday, April 15 at 4 p.m. The nuptials will take place in the Sanctuary of Morrison United Methodist Church, W. Main St., Leesburg. A reception will follow in the Juanita Gregg Family Life Center. No wedding gifts are requested, but friends of Petunia and Broadus
are welcome to make donations in their honor to the Methodist Children's Home. This is one delightful afternoon of humor you don't want to miss! |
Volunteers Appreciation
and a
Heartfelt Goodbye
Recently we hosted a dinner to celebrate our volunteers. We could not operate the Children's Home without a dedicated corps of volunteers. We have volunteers that come in and work on a daily basis, some weekly, others seasonal, and still others come in for special events. We also host a number of church work groups. We could not accomplish all we do without our wonderful volunteers. If you would like more information about how you or a group from your church might volunteer, please contact Zoe Peterson at zoe.peterson@fumch.org, or call (386) 668-4774.
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Mr. Mike Galloway (left), President of the Children's Home, presents Ann and Bob King with an award. |
We also said goodbye to Bob & Ann King. They have been an integral part of the Children's Home since 1996. For 16 years they have been volunteering all over our campus. They created and organized our Archives Room to help preserve our history. Each year they played a vital role to make Day On Campus a success. They were helped to organize Christmas which brought much joy to our boys and girls. They did so many tasks, great and small, over the years. They have been a true blessing to residents, staff and trustees. They will be greatly missed, but we wish them well in the next chapter of their lives. |
26th Annual New Horizon Golf Tournament
Each year New Horizon UMC in Southwest Ranches, FL (South East District) hosts a very successful golf tournament for the Children's Home.
If you would like to participate or need more information, please contact the church at (954) 434-7400 or visit: www.newhorizongolfandauction20
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Don't Forget Fifth Sunday
Offerings
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Remember to promote and collect the Fifth Sunday Offering. It is vital to the success of this ministry
April 29, 2012
July 29, 2012
September 30, 2012
December 30, 2012
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SAVE THE DATE |
2013Day On Campus
March 16, 2013
We cordially invite all those in the Gulf Central District and South Central District to come and enjoy this day of celebration. |
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Fifth Sunday Offering
April 29, 2012
 
Please remember to encourage and receive a strong Fifth Sunday Offering on April 29, 2012. This is vital source of income to fund the daily mission and ministry of the Children's Home. Please contact us if you need bulletin inserts, pew envelopes or a speaker for that Sunday. Please note that the next Fifth Sunday will not be until July 29, 2012. |
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Over 1,300 Enjoy
Day On Campus
 
On March 17, 2012, over 1,300 United Methodists and friends of the Children's Home enjoyed a fun and festive day celebrating the ministry of the Home. Most of our guests came from the East Central District and South West District, but churches were represented from all over the Florida Annual Conference. Our annual Day On Campus is our way of saying thank you to the local United Methodist Churches and the many friends of the Children's Home who support us with such generosity. Each year we specifically invite two or three districts, but you are free to come any year. The Day On Campus celebration is always the third Saturday of March each year. It is a great day that includes tours of the campus, a program featuring the residents, a picnic lunch under a big top tent, and the fellowship of other United Methodists from around the Florida Conference. If you have never attended a Day On Campus, please make plans to bring a group from your church. It is a great way to introduce people to the Children's Home. The following is the schedule of invited districts for the next few years.
March 16, 2013
Gulf Central and South Central
March 15, 2014
North West, North Central and North East
March 21, 2015
Atlantic Central and South East
March 19, 2015
East Central and South West |
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CONGRATULATIONS!
The Florida United Methodist Children's Home is proud to lift up and celebrate those individuals and churches that have gone above and beyond to support the work and ministry of the Children's Home. At our 2012 Day On Campus event we presented awards for Church of the Year, Pastor of the Year, Local Church Representative of the Year and Mission Work Group of the Year. We also have installed in Hardin Hall perpetual plaques that we display the names of the recipients as they are awarded each year. For 2011 we recognize the following:
Church of the Year
Mandarin UMC, Jacksonville, Florida
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Trustee Rev. Brian Brightly (left) presents Board of Trustee member, Mr. Charlie Perry and his wife Donna, from Mandarin UMC with the award. |
Mandarin UMC of Jacksonville, Florida has consistently been a top giving church to the Children's Home for many years. They have come for numerous tours and sent volunteers and work teams. The church participates at Day On Campus every year. In 2011, the church gave $46,773.17 to the Children's Home. The church opens its doors to host gatherings and trainings for the Children's Home. The pastors, Reverend Deborah McLeod, Rev. CJ Hill and Rev. Missy Hart allow representatives of the Children's Home to speak in various settings throughout the church. The church also goes above and beyond their regular Fifth Sunday Offering Support by hosting a fishing tournament each year to raise funds and awareness. Thank you Mandarin United Methodist for making the Children's Home a priority in your church and for your many years of steadfast support.
Pastor of the Year
Rev. Bob Laidlaw
First UMC, Madison, Florida
 | | Rev. Bob Laidlaw and his wife Traci are presented the award by Dr. Wayne Wiatt, DS of the East Central District and Board member. |
Reverend Bob Laidlaw, pastor of First United Methodist Church of Madison, Florida, is a vocal and enthusiastic supporter of the Children's Home. The church consistently goes far beyond what is asked of them to support the Children's Home. In 2011, the church gave $136,560.28 to the Children's Home, which represents $270.42 per member. Bob regularly invites representatives from the Children's Home to speak in the church and opens up the church for Children's Home gatherings and trainings. The church took a lead role in the 2008 centennial celebration of the Home held in Madison, Florida. Bob has been instrumental in the development and planning of the new Madison Youth Ranch project. Bob also serves as a member of the Board of Trustees and has encouraged other members of his church to serve on the Board as well. Thank you Bob Laidlaw for your sustaining and vital support of the Children's Home.
Local Church Representative
of the Year
Ms. Nancy Crawford
Silver Palm UMC, Homestead, Florida
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Trustee, Mrs. Alyson Cobb Morgan (left), presents the award to Ms. Nancy Crawford |
Nancy Crawford has been a very effective Local Church Representative. Her church, Silver Palm United Methodist Church of Homestead, Florida consistently meets and exceeds their goal of giving to the Children's Home. In 2011, Silver Palm UMC gave $22.37 per member, far above the $12.00 per member asked for of each church. In addition to the regular Fifth Sunday Offering support, Silver Palm UMC also provides funds to help our residents celebrate birthdays and to assist our graduating seniors. Nancy and her church are a wonderful example that distance from the campus of the Children's Home in never a deterrent for providing love and support to the Children's Home and feeling connected to the residents and staff. Our heartfelt thanks is extended to Nancy Crawford, Silver Palm United Methodist Church and its pastor, Reverend Diane Gutierrez.
Mission Work Group of the Year
Christ UMC, Lehigh Acres, Florida
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Trustee, Jerry Haralson (left), presents the award to Mike Edwards. |
Christ United Methodist Church of Lehigh Acres, Florida has sent numerous work teams to the Children's Home. They come ready for hard work and are committed to the tasks given them. In 2011, the youth pastor of the church, Mike Edwards, organized a work team made up of four different churches from the South West District. In addition to Christ UMC, they included Gulf Cove UMC, Port Charlotte UMC and Ft. Ogden UMC. This was a cooperative effort and a good way to give churches with small youth groups an opportunity to have a mission trip experience. We appreciate them giving of their time, talents and resources to support the ministry of the Children's Home and for carrying the love and spirit of Jesus Christ in all their work at the Children's Home. We are proud to give this award to Christ United Methodist Church of Lehigh Acres. Reverend Carlos Otero serves as pastor. |
NOMADS Return
 
We once again welcome back the NOMADS to the Children's Home. We appreciate their hard work and dedication. They complete a variety of projects around our campus and save the Children's Home considerable staff time and money.
NOMADS is an acronym for Nomads on a Mission Active in Divine Service. NOMADS is a national outreach ministry affiliated with the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church. The NOMADS are always a pleasure to have on campus.
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