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Missions
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Missions Committee Co-Directors:
Amy & Ken Whitwell
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Matthew 25:40, 45 “…whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me…whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.”
How can I help? Who needs me? Where do I begin? These are all questions we have asked or will ask at one time or another in our walk with God. Alone, the task can be daunting or even impossible to comprehend. But one of the many blessings of belonging to a church, who has already wrestled with these questions, is that no one is alone.
The missions of Perdido Bay United Methodist Church are varied, contemporary, effective, and efficient. We strive to grow mission-minded Christians by education, exposure, and involvement opportunities. The men, women and children of PBUMC give of themselves on our campus, in our community and around the world. They help babies, needy children, imprisoned men, abused women, struggling Christians, orphans, rural families, the hungry and the homeless. And they are doing it everyday. There is a mission field here for everyone.
Please prayerfully consider the missions supported by this church when God calls you to give of yourself, your time, your talents, and your gifts. You can be a “sender” and you can be a “goer.”
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Hallmark Elementary School
Contact: Barbara Russell
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| Our church is a Partner in Education with Hallmark Elementary School. This school is a hardworking inter-city public school in Pensacola which, unlike most Escambia Schools, is challenged economically and scholastically. Principal Dr. Sheree Cagle Mauldin has made it her goal to reach their "A," and has worked tirelessly to improve not only the school, but the lives of her children (i.e. supplementing food), their families (i.e. providing GED courses) and community. Our church has provided donations of clothing, shoes, equipment, items for the Success Store and Christmas gifts for each child for the last three years. In addition, PBUMC sends mentors, classroom aides and volunteers throughout the school year. An exciting new addition to this ministry is in the works to involve our Fourth and Fifth graders in the Hallmark Gallery Night, bridging two communities for a wonderful evening of fun and fellowship. There are many wonderful ways we can support the mission of this school, its teachers, dedicated administration and families. |
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Contact: Caroline King
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| PBUMC has helped to support economically challenged individuals and families in our neighborhood with its involvement in several local food bank missions. We have supported the Perdido Bay Baptist Church in their weekly Food Bank by providing volunteers and funds; we will continue to do so as need dictates. We assist the Warrington Emergency Aid Shelter by collecting non perishables on "Souper" Bowl Sunday and by sending volunteers to assist in the Stamp Out Hunger Postal Workers Food Drive (we plan to do so in May 2009 as well.) And during the last two Thanksgivings, PBUMC has distributed 25 Thanksgiving baskets and turkeys to families in our area. We pray this mission will grow, as the need will certainly multiply as the economy continues to struggle. |
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Contact: Church Office
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| A local certified domestic abuse center serving Escambia and Santa Rosa counties is near and dear to the hearts of several of the PBUMC members. It provides safe housing for up to 22 women and children, as well as counseling and services for victims of domestic abuse and perpetrators. They also provide training for the local community. |
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Contact: Dave Marnell
456-4195
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| Several of PBUMC's members are deeply involved in the Kairos Christian ministry to prisons in the Northwest Florida area. Studies have shown that inmates affiliated with the Kairos program re-enter society as better spouses, parents and employees, with many of them running their own ministries. Our volunteers serve the prisons located in Century and Washington in Northwest Florida. They work with an inter-denominational team to present 3 day weekend programs which are sometimes described as "short courses" in Christianity. They have touched many otherwise considered hopeless and have made a difference in the lives of these incarcerated individuals. |
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Contact: Ed Hancock
After 5PM 497-8497
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| Pensacola Habitat for Humanity builds houses in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties for low-income families. Habitat homeowners must help build their homes, must pay a mortgage and must learn to maintain their homes. PBUMC has helped sponsor houses and PBUMC members, especially our Youth, have helped frame, paint and landscape houses. We schedule a church wide workday each quarter. Several members volunteer individually at the Re-store, at the business office, on committees and on constructions sites. There is something to do at Habitat 6 days a week. Learn more about Pensacola Habitat at www.pensacolahabitat.org |
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The United Methodist Committee on Relief
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| UMCOR is a not-for-profit international humanitarian aid organization of The United Methodist Church that is active in many parts of the world. Each January, Perdido Bay UMC typically sends an adult mission team to the Sager Brown facility in Baldwin, Louisiana to prepare flood buckets, health kits and school kits for use in worldwide missions. The team also does some local volunteer work in the nearby community. |
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Contact: Toby Rutherford (Youth Director)
Pete King
261-3938
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| The Red Bird Mission founded in 1921 as a non-profit agency located in the Appalachian mountains of Southeastern Kentucky, empowers individuals and advocates justice by providing educational, health, and community outreach ministries to the area of low-income residents. As part of the Perdido Bay UMC commitment to Red Bird, we collect Campbell products labels. We also take at least one work team per year to work at the Red Bird work camp. Our trip planning committee is busy making preparations for our June 2009 trip set for May 31-June 6. We pray this year’s group of middle school students, as in year’s past, will grow and benefit from this blessing of light construction work and fellowship. Adults are needed and welcomed to join in this mission endeavor. |
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Matamoros Children's Home
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| Perdido Bay UMC supports the efforts of the Matamoros Children's Home in Matamoros, Mexico, located near Brownsville Texas. Church members Al and Jane Head lead these efforts from their winter home in south Texas. The Children's Home is a faith based ministry that has served orphaned, neglected and abused children for the last 37 years. Our church has not only supported the Home with financial donations, but in spring of 2007, we sent a mission team of adults and high school kids to help refurbish some of the compound buildings. Our goal for 2009 is to bring the facility into the age of technology with computer equipment and supplies. Al and Jane provide support on an ongoing basis throughout the year. |
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Pete King
261-3938
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| In past years Perdido Bay UMC has participated in short term mission trips to Costa Rica. We have been blessed to join forces with other churches’ teams in support of the Evangelista Metodista Conference of Costa Rica and fielded our own team of 22 adults and high school students in 2005. The experiences of those missionaries have left a strong desire to return to work alongside our Christian brothers and sisters of that beautiful country. Post Hurricane Ivan economic realities have put those plans on hold until this year. We have had recent recruiting meetings and discussions that have led to plans for a trip back to Costa Rica in June 2009. We will likely help build or maintain local churches and a Vacation Bible School for the local children will be a part of our mission. Tentative dates are set for June 6-13 for a team of 16 adults but high school age students, 16 years or older, are encouraged to apply. All ages, genders and skill levels are welcome. |
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