e-Review Florida United Methodist News Service

e-Review Photo Gallery April-December 2010 For larger image, click on picture.   Sean and Jonathan Sorenson help stack Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes filled with school supplies, toys and other items at Mandarin United Methodist Church in 2009. Last year, members filled and collected more than 1,000 shoeboxes, which were sent to needy children around the world. This year’s collection totaled more than 800. Photo courtesy of Mandarin United Methodist Church. Photo #10-1631. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1247, 12/21/10. A pastel chalk drawing of Summer King as a child by Alyce Walcavich. Photo courtesy of Jo Ann Encinosa. Photo #10-1630. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1247, 12/21/10. A child in Papua New Guinea happily receive shoeboxes filled with school supplies, toys, necessity items, family photos and notes of encouragement from Operation Christmas Child. Since 1993, the organization has distributed approximately 77 million boxes to children in more than 130 countries. Photo courtesy of Operation Christmas Child. Photo #10-1629. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1247, 12/21/10. A severely collapsed building on the way to Leogane, Haiti, is just one of thousands that dot the countryside nearly a year after the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that hit the Caribbean nation. Photo by Bill Giangrande. Photo #10-1628. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1246, 12/16/10. Many Haitians are still living in tents cities, like this one in Leogane, Haiti, nearly a year after the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that hit the Caribbean nation. Photo by Bill Giangrande. Photo #10-1627. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1246, 12/16/10. Members of a mission team from the Florida Conference’s East Central District pass buckets of concrete that will be used to build a security wall around a compound housing a temporary school and church buildings in Mellier, Haiti. “When we returned the empty buckets, we turned it into a game of throwing the bucket to each other and then got creative by tossing it high and spinning it to see if the next person could catch it,” team member Bill Giangrande said. “The Haitian workers … would yell ‘Bucket, bucket,’ louder and louder to getting it moving faster and faster. It was a great bonding experience.” The team worked in Haiti Oct. 26-Nov. 3. Photo by Bill Giangrande. Photo #10-1626. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1246, 12/16/10. Kent Powers cuts the plywood decking for a shed a mission team from the Florida Conference’s East Central District is buidling in Mellier, Haiti. Powers led the team, which worked in the country Oct. 26-Nov. 3 to start demolition of a damaged school building, build a security wall around a compound housing a temporary school and church buildings, and remove rubble, among other tasks. Photo by Bill Giangrande. Photo #10-1625. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1246, 12/16/10. Larry Whitley boxes stockings filled with cookies, gifts and letters that will be sent to U.S. servicemen and -women deployed overseas. Whitley volunteers for the ministry with his wife, Liz, who helped formally organize the ministry in 2007. Their son, Stephen, is preparing to return to active duty in Afghanistan. Photo by Derek Maul. Photo #10-1624. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1244, 12/08/10. A member of the Military Support Group ministry at First United Methodist Church in Oviedo holds a prayer card listing U.S. servicemen and -women deployed overseas. Photo by Derek Maul. Photo #10-1623. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1244, 12/08/10. Charlotte Wasmund (center) and other volunteers for the Military Support Group ministry at First United Methodist Church in Oviedo fill hundreds of stockings with cookies and other items at Aggressive Appliance Center in Orlando. The stockings will be sent to U.S. servicemen and -women deployed overseas, like Wasmund’s son, Todd, an Army lieutenant colonel, and his battalion. Owners of the appliance center opened the store for the ministry’s use. Photo courtesy of Aggressive Appliance Center. Photo #10-1622. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1244, 12/08/10. Stockings that will be sent to U.S. servicemen and -women deployed overseas are lined up and ready to be filled with home-made cookies and other items at a recent meeting of the Military Support Group ministry at First United Methodist Church in Oviedo. More than 1,500 stockings were filled. Photo by Derek Maul. Photo #10-1621. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1244, 12/08/10. The Rev. Dr. Armando and Icel Rodriguez (center) and students from the boys boarding school at Quéssua sit at the base of a cross that tops a mountain overlooking Quéssua and Malange. The couple had been serving at Quéssua — the theological and spiritual center of the East Angola Conference of The United Methodist Church — as short-term missioners as part of the East Angola/Florida Partnership. Photo courtesy of the Rev. Dr. Armando Rodriguez Jr. File photo #10-1443. Originally accompanied e-Review Florida UMNS #1174, 05/24/10. Also accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1242, 12/03/10. Cuban Methodists are baptized near Havana. Photo courtesy of The Methodist Church in Cuba. File photo #09-1113. Originally accompanied e-Review Florida UMNS #0981, 03/10/09. Also accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1242, 12/03/10.     The Rev. Dr. Rinaldo Hernández Torres (left) and then Florida Conference Bishop Cornelius L. Henderson hold copies of the Cuba-Florida Covenant they’ve just singed during the Cuba Methodist Annual Conference in Havana in June 1997. Photo by Hubert E. Floyd. File Photo #06-370. Originally accompanied an Aug. 8, 1997, story in Florida United Methodist Review. Also accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1242, 12/03/10. Members head to worship during a visit from members of Keystone United Methodist Church in the former Tampa District to their sister churches in Cuba’s Sierra Maestra District. Photo by Carolyn Smith. File photo #05-0156. Originally accompanied e-Review Florida UMNS #0279, 04/21/05. Also accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1242, 12/03/10. Clergy pray together at the 2009 Clergy Day Apart at the Life Enrichment Center in Fruitland Park. Photo by Erik Alsgaard. Photo #10-1620. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1243, 12/07/10. Imagine No Malaria banner in front of Texas state capitol. A UMNS photo by John Gordon. Photo #10-1619. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1239, 11/23/10. Public health workers and community volunteers train to distribute mosquito nets in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo. A UMNS photo by Mike DuBose. Photo #10-1618. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1239, 11/23/10. Seminarians enter the opening ceremony of the Seth Mokitimi Methodist Seminary in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, held in early September. The seminary was named for Seth Molefi Mokitimi, the first black person to be appointed president of The Methodist Church of Southern Africa and one of the church’s most renowned preachers and educators. The first students began arriving in January 2009. Photo courtesy of Doug Roland. Photo #10-1617. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1238, 11/18/10. Church leaders and seminary faculty and students celebrated the official opening of the Seth Mokitimi Methodist Seminary in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, Sept. 4-5. The seminary was named for Seth Molefi Mokitimi, the first black person to be appointed president of The Methodist Church of Southern Africa and one of the church’s most renowned preachers and educators. The first students began arriving in January 2009. Photo courtesy of Doug Roland. Photo #10-1616. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1238, 11/18/10. In the field education department at the Seth Mokitimi Methodist Seminary, Doug and Cheri Roland were greeted with signs on their office doors honoring St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Orlando and Hyde Park United Methodist Church in Tampa for the churches’ support of the seminary. The Rolands, members of the Tampa church, are serving as volunteer missionaries at the seminary for the next several years. Photo courtesy of Doug Roland. Photo #10-1615. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1238, 11/18/10. In the field education department at the Seth Mokitimi Methodist Seminary, Doug and Cheri Roland were greeted with signs on their office doors honoring St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Orlando and Hyde Park United Methodist Church in Tampa for the churches’ support of the seminary. The Rolands, members of the Tampa church, are serving as volunteer missionaries at the seminary for the next several years. Photo courtesy of Doug Roland. Photo #10-1615. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1238, 11/18/10. Doug and Cheri Roland and a seminary student take a break from their work at a local psychiatric hospital. They were part a team of students and faculty from the Seth Mokitimi Methodist Seminary in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, that volunteered there after public workers went on strike. The Rolands, members of Hyde Park United Methodist Church in Tampa, are serving as volunteer missionaries at the seminary for the next several years. Photo courtesy of Doug Roland. Photo #10-1614. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1238, 11/18/10. Members of Harvest United Methodist Church in Lakewood Ranch sort and bag clothing for families at One Stop Resource Center in Bradenton, a nonprofit that helps people who are homeless move from poverty to self-sufficiency. The work was part of Harvest’s “Be the Change” or 10-10-10 Sunday. Immediately after church that morning, more than 200 church members volunteered in the community with area health and human service organizations. Photo courtesy of Harvest United Methodist Church. Photo #10-1613. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1236, 11/09/10. Members of Harvest United Methodist Church in Lakewood Ranch dig in to mulch around the grounds at One Stop Resource Center in Bradenton, a nonprofit that helps people who are homeless move from poverty to self-sufficiency. The work was part of Harvest’s “Be the Change” or 10-10-10 Sunday. Immediately after church that morning, more than 200 church members volunteered in the community with area health and human service organizations. Photo courtesy of Harvest United Methodist Church. Photo #10-1612. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1236, 11/09/10. Members of Harvest United Methodist Church in Lakewood Ranch paint children’s faces at a free health fair Oct. 10 at nearby Nueva Esperanza United Methodist Church. The churches partnered to provide the fair as part of Harvest’s “Be the Change” or 10-10-10 Sunday. Immediately after church that morning, more than 200 church members volunteered in the community with area health and human service organizations. Photo courtesy of Harvest United Methodist Church. Photo #10-1611. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1236, 11/09/10. Bill Harley, lay leader at Christ Church United Methodist in Ft. Lauderdale, says many of the children he and other Florida Conference leaders met while visiting damaged areas of Haiti in May were smiling, despite having endured great loss. “At the heart, they are still kids. They like to be hugged, they like to be held, they like to kick a ball around,” he said. “In many ways, these kids are happy kids.” Photo by Phil Roughton. File photo #10-1458. Originally accompanied e-Review Florida UMNS #1178, 06/03/10. Also accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1234, 11/03/10. Collapsed buildings and piles of rubble are still a common site in Haiti more than 10 months after a 7.0-magnitude earthquake and 33 aftershocks rocked the Caribbean nation. Photo by Bill Harley. Photo #10-1610. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1234, 11/03/10.   An estimated 1.3 million people are living in about 1,300 sprawling camps in dilapidated tents and lean-to’s never meant for long-term use. Photo by Diane Johnson. Photo #10-1609. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1234, 11/03/10. A Haitian congregant from St. Martin Methodist Church in Port-au-Prince prays during an outdoor worship service. A UMNS photo by Mike DuBose. File photo #10-1394. Originally accompanied e-Review Florida UMNS #1135, 02/03/10. Also accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1234, 11/03/10. The Rev. Dr. Geraldine McClellan, senior pastor at Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church in Gainesville, tells laity and clergy attending the Small Church Retreat Sept. 25 at the Life Enrichment Center in Fruitland Park that personal worship outside church is integral to having a rich worship experience at church. Photo by J.A. Buchholz. Photo #10-1608. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1233, 10/27/10. A participant asks the Rev. Jim Wallis, president of Sojourners, a question after his keynote address during the Florida United Methodist Foundation’s annual stewardship summit Sept. 17 at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Orlando. Photo by Brittany Curry. Photo #10-1607. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1231, 10/22/10. During the Florida United Methodist Foundation’s annual stewardship summit Sept. 17 at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Orlando, the Rev. Jim Wallis, president of Sojourners, tells participants they need to revitalize their churches and ensure issues of poverty and justice are central to the “mission and heart of your church.” “The unchurched need to see a difference in the way Christians live, as opposed to the rest of the world,” he said. “We need to show that the world can be different because of our faith.” Photo by Brittany Curry. Photo #10-1606. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1231, 10/22/10. Florida Conference Bishop Timothy Whitaker (right) and Bishop Robert Fannin (left) help University of Florida president Bernie Machen cut the ribbon during the Aug. 28 grand opening celebration of the Gator Wesley Center, home of the Gator Wesley Foundation in Gainesville. The campus ministry began in 1925 and serves students at the University of Florida and Santa Fe College. The center was built on the property of the former University United Methodist Church. Photo by Casey Brooke Lawson. Photo #10-1605. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1230, 10/20/10. (Left to right) Becca Barry, Vanessa Alvarez and Jessi Cunio stand outside the Gator Wesley Center, the new home of the Gator Wesley Foundation in Gainesville. The students serve on the leadership team for the campus ministry, which began in 1925 and serves students at the University of Florida and Santa Fe College. Photo by Derek Maul. Photo #10-1604. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1230, 10/20/10. Students, ministry leaders and guests stand outside the new Gator Wesley Center after its grand opening celebration Aug. 28. The center is the home of the Gator Wesley Foundation, the campus ministry serving students at the University of Florida and Santa Fe College in Gainesville. The center was built on the property of the former University United Methodist Church. “University UMC was a neighborhood church committed to campus ministry,” said the Rev. David Fuquay pastor and executive director of the campus ministry. “It voted to discontinue in 2009, but left a legacy of exceptional financial management that made this ministry possible.” Photo by Casey Brooke Lawson. Photo #10-1603. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1230, 10/20/10. The Rev. David Fuquay (center) poses with (left to right) Christina Sheperd, Samantha Buckley, Claes Westring and Travis Hornsby, college students who serve on the leadership team for the Gator Wesley Foundation in Gainesville, in the chapel at the new Gator Wesley Center. The center is the new home of the campus ministry, which began in 1925 and serves students at the University of Florida and Santa Fe College. Fuquay is pastor and executive director of the ministry. Photo by Derek Maul. Photo #10-1602. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1230, 10/20/10. Students and guests worship Aug. 28 during the service consecrating the grand opening of the Gator Wesley Center, home to the Gator Wesley Foundation in Gainesville. The campus began in 1925 and serves students at the University of Florida and Santa Fe College. Photo by Casey Brooke Lawson. Photo #10-1601. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1230, 10/20/10. Six months after its April 11 groundbreaking, the new home of Community of Hope United Methodist Church in Loxahatchee is well on its way to completion. The congregation plans to hold its first service there sometime in January. The new building comes 14 years after the church launched in the home of the Rev. Dale Locke, senior pastor at the church, and is the first permanent worship and ministry space for the congregation. Photo courtesy of Community of Hope United Methodist Church. Photo #10-1600. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1227, 10/15/10. (Left to right) The Rev. Dale Locke, senior pastor at Community of Hope United Methodist Church in Loxahatchee; Joe Jurban, a former church member; and church member Pete Wellman, cut the ribbon at the church’s LEAD Center (lead, encourage, assimilate, disciple). The center houses the church’s administrative offices and meeting space for the middle and high school students and small groups. The offices will remain there when the church’s new facility opens in January, but the youth will move to the new building so the youth groups can continue to grow. The new building comes 14 years after the church launched in Locke’s home and is the first permanent worship and ministry space for the congregation. Photo courtesy of Community of Hope United Methodist Church. Photo #10-1599. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1227, 10/15/10. Members of Community of Hope United Methodist Church in Loxahatchee stand around a cross made from mulch and small rocks as part of the April 11 groundbreaking of their new building. Members took the rocks home to write the names of church members, friends, neighbors or acquaintances on them and pray over them. When the foundation was laid, the rocks were poured into it. The new building comes 14 years after the church launched in Locke’s home and is the first permanent worship and ministry space for the congregation. Photo courtesy of Community of Hope United Methodist Church.  Photo #10-1598. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1227, 10/15/10. Laura Toshie, the mission and outreach coordinator at First United Methodist Church in Winter Park, holds a hand sewn layette set donated to the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) Sager Brown disaster supply depot in Baldwin, La. Twenty-five East Central District churches gathered more then $35,000 worth of supplies — for health kits, cleaning buckets, school bags, sewing and birthing kits, and more — through a districtwide UMCOR supply challenge. Photo courtesy of Carol Smith. Photo #10-1597. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1226, 10/14/10. Volunteers load supplies onto a truck headed for the United Methodist Committee on Relief Sager Brown disaster supply depot in Baldwin, La. Twenty-five East Central District churches gathered more then $35,000 worth of supplies — for health kits, cleaning buckets, school bags, sewing and birthing kits, and more — through the districtwide effort. Photo courtesy of Carol Smith. Photo #10-1596. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1226, 10/14/10. Jake and Nate Gobel take a break from helping load supplies onto a truck headed for the United Methodist Committee on Relief Sager Brown disaster supply depot in Baldwin, La. Twenty-five East Central District churches gathered more then $35,000 worth of supplies — for health kits, cleaning buckets, school bags, sewing and birthing kits, and more — through the districtwide effort. Photo courtesy of Carol Smith. Photo #10-1595. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1226, 10/14/10. The 2010 Florida Conference summer mission interns gather at Riverside Retreat in La Belle for a planning retreat before their internships begin. The intern program began in 2008 with four interns. This year’s class included 25. Photo by the Rev. David Berkey. Photo #10-1594. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1225, 10/07/10. Amanda Keene takes a break with one of her campers at The Master’s Workshop in Melbourne. Keene worked at the organization, which offers a summer day camp and after-school program, as a Florida Conference summer mission intern. She was one of 25 interns who worked with nine outreach ministries across the conference this summer. Photo courtesy of Amanda Keene. Photo #10-1593. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1225, 10/07/10. Children participating in Media Club, part of a day camp offered at Calvary United Methodist Church in Lake Worth by C.R.O.S. Ministries (Christians Reaching Out to Society), line up for the next activity. The club focused on creativity using various mediums — digital photography, drawing, photos from magazines. Florida Conference summer mission interns served as counselors at the camp. Photo by Carl Augustin. Photo #10-1592. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1225, 10/07/10. Job seekers line up to enter the Sept. 4 Hands Full of Hope job fair organized by Estero United Methodist Church. The church is located in Lee County, an area whose unemployment rate was higher than both the state and national averages in July. More than 500 job seekers had the opportunity to connect with the fair’s 25 participating companies. Photo by Travis Caldaro. Photo #10-1591. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1223, 09/30/10. A company representative interviews a prospective employee at the Sept. 4 Hands Full of Hope job fair organized by Estero United Methodist Church. The church is located in Lee County, an area whose unemployment rate was higher than both the state and national averages in July. More than 500 job seekers had the opportunity to connect with the fair’s 25 participating companies. Photo by Travis Caldaro. Photo #10-1590. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1223, 09/30/10. Job seekers check out open positions at companies participating in the Sept. 4 Hands Full of Hope job fair organized by Estero United Methodist Church. The church is located in Lee County, an area whose unemployment rate was higher than both the state and national averages in July. More than 500 job seekers had the opportunity to connect with the fair’s 25 participating companies. Photo by Travis Caldaro. Photo #10-1589. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1223, 09/30/10. A job seeker fills out an application at the Sept. 4 Hands Full of Hope job fair organized by Estero United Methodist Church. The church is located in Lee County, an area whose unemployment rate was higher than both the state and national averages in July. More than 500 job seekers had the opportunity to connect with the fair’s 25 participating companies. Photo by Travis Caldaro. Photo #10-1588. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1223, 09/30/10. This geocache glued to the bottom of a fence cap at the Venice-Nokomis United Methodist Church cemetery contains only a logbook for searchers to sign. “This is considered a ‘small’ container,” Beverly McFarland said. “Sometimes you can use old prescription medicine bottles, but we chose to use a camping watertight match container.” McFarland hid the cache and five larger, informational caches as part of a project about the history of Venice-Nokomis United Methodist church and its founder’s influence in the area for certification as a United Methodist business manager from Emory University. Photo courtesy of Beverly McFarland. Photo #10-1587. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1222, 09/28/10. This geocache at Grace United Methodist Church in Venice includes a church welcome packet, historical information about Venice-Nokomis United Methodist Church and items for searchers to take. The container is an ammunition box, used regularly by geocachers. “Usually the box would be covered with leaves, grass, etc., to help cammo it,” Beverly McFarland said. “We chose not to do that for any of our hides for the church history. The idea was to make it fun, easy and to learn about the churches in our community.” McFarland hid a total of six caches as part of a project about the history of Venice-Nokomis United Methodist church and its founder’s influence in the area for certification as a United Methodist business manager from Emory University. Photo courtesy of Beverly McFarland. Photo #10-1557. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1222, 09/28/10. The Rev. Tracy Hunter (center, front) worships with fellow clergy and lay members during the service of licensing, commissioning and ordination at the 2010 Florida Annual Conference Event in June. Photo by Dave Summerill. Photo #10-1556. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1221, 09/28/10. A member of Lakewood United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg carries a church banner in the city’s 2010 Pride parade, an annual gay rights celebration. The church made a formal commitment to open its doors to all people regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity this year when it became a reconciling congregation as part of the Reconciling Ministries Network. Photo by Yolanda Giovannetti. Photo #10-1555. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1221, 09/28/10. Karen Epting, president of the ToyMakers ministry at East Lake United Methodist Church in Palm Harbor, puts away several wooden cars among the boxes of blue racers, ladybugs, firetrucks and other toys. An offshoot of ToyMakers is a bicycle ministry that has repaired more than 150 bicycles for people in Haiti, area veteran’s groups, homeless men and women living in tent cities in Pinellas and Pasco counties, and local at-risk children. Photo by Kitty Carpenter. Photo #10-1554. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1219, 09/24/10. (Left to right) Cory Nickels, the Rev. Gene Watson, Trevor Charlton and Otniel Lefranc repair bicycles through the bicycle ministry at East Lake United Methodist Church in Palm Harbor. The ministry has repaired more than 150 bicycles for people in Haiti, area veteran’s groups, homeless men and women living in tent cities in Pinellas and Pasco counties, and local at-risk children. Lefranc’s father is director at Haiti’s Zamar Ministries, a recipient of the bicycles and other supplies collected by Florida churches and communities. Photo by Kitty Carpenter. Photo #10-1553. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1219, 09/24/10. Sue Bailey, mission co-chair at East Lake United Methodist Church in Palm Harbor; the Rev. Guerry Lefranc (center), director of Zamar Ministries in Haiti; and David Fowles help volunteers sort donations for a container of bicycles and supplies being sent to Zamar Ministries. Fowles will be helping Lefranc in Haiti for two months. Photo by Kitty Carpenter. Photo #10-1552. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1219, 09/24/10. Volunteers in Haiti unload bicycles and other supplies provided by East Lake and Wellspring United Methodist churches in Palm Harbor and Tampa, respectively, for Zamar Ministries, which operates a church, school and clinic in Haiti. Photo courtesy of Sue Bailey. Photo #10-1551. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1219, 09/24/10. A volunteer at Estero United Methodist Church pours thousands of pounds of dehydrated food into buckets so it can be measured and sorted into meal packets that will feed hundreds of thousands of people affected by the Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti. The project was done through a relationship the Florida church has with its sister church in Cherette, Haiti. Photo courtesy of the Rev. David Harris. Photo #10-1550. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1218, 09/20/10. Volunteers at Estero United Methodist Church put packages of dehydrated food into boxes for delivery to Haiti. The meal packets will feed hundreds of thousands of people affected by the Jan. 12 earthquake there. The project was done through a relationship the Florida church has with its sister church in Cherette, Haiti. Photo courtesy of the Rev. David Harris. Photo #10-1549. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1218, 09/20/10. Volunteers at Estero United Methodist Church carefully measure dehydrated food for meal packages that will feed hundreds of thousands of people affected by the Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti. The project was done through a relationship the Florida church has with its sister church in Cherette, Haiti. Photo courtesy of the Rev. David Harris. Photo #10-1548. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1218, 09/20/10. The youth drama team shares a witness during opening worship for the MARCHA meeting in San Juan, Puerto Rico. A UMNS photo by Mike DuBose. Photo #10-1547. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1217, 09/17/10. Participants attending “A Gathering for Peace, Understanding and Hope” Sept. 10 at Trinity United Methodist Church in Gainesville hold hands as they sing “Kumbaya” at the end of the evening. The Gainesville Interfaith Forum coordinated the gathering in response to threats by the pastor of a fringe church in Gainesville to burn the Quran. Photo by Tita Parham.  Photo #10-1546. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1215, 09/14/10. The Rev. Dan Johnson, senior pastor at Trinity United Methodist Church, answers questions from reporters at “A Gathering for Peace, Understanding and Hope” Sept. 10 at the church. The Gainesville Interfaith Forum coordinated the gathering in response to threats by the pastor of a fringe church in Gainesville to burn the Quran. Photo by Tita Parham. Photo #10-1545. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1215, 09/14/10. Razan Al-Nahhas, 21, a Muslim and recent graduate of the University of Florida, writes a message of peace on a canvas banner at “A Gathering for Peace, Understanding and Hope” Sept. 10 at Trinity United Methodist Church in Gainesville. “Through all of this, I’ve grown to love my community so much,” she said. “I am so proud to be a Muslim-American.” The Gainesville Interfaith Forum coordinated the gathering in response to threats by the pastor of a fringe church in Gainesville to burn the Quran. Photo by Tita Parham. Photo #10-1544. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1215, 09/14/10. Children attending “A Gathering for Peace, Understanding and Hope” Sept. 10 at Trinity United Methodist Church in Gainesville decorate bottle caps with messages of peace and hope at art stations set up in one area of the sanctuary. Hundreds of people of all faiths from the Gainesville community and beyond attended the gathering, coordinated by the Gainesville Interfaith Forum in response to threats by the pastor of a fringe church in Gainesville to burn the Quran. Photo by Tita Parham. Photo #10-1543. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1215, 09/14/10. Hundreds of people of all faiths from the Gainesville community and beyond attended “A Gathering for Peace, Understanding and Hope” Sept. 10 at Trinity United Methodist Church in Gainesville in response to threats by the pastor of a fringe church in Gainesville to burn the Quran. Photo by Tita Parham. Photo #10-1542. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1215, 09/14/10. Terry Canfield (right) says she had an almost instant connection with Bernadette, 19, an orphan who is raising two younger sisters while participating in ZOE Ministry’s Hope Companions program. Bernadette and Canfield’s daughter were born with the same defect of their digestive and reproductive systems. Bernadette is “the reason God sent me to Rwanda,” Canfield said. Canfield was one of 13 Florida United Methodists who traveled to Kigali, Rwanda, this summer through a mission trip coordinated by the East Central District of the Florida Conference to see the ministry in action and determine what they can do back home to help. Photo courtesy of Terry Canfield. Photo #10-1541. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1214, 09/10/10. Safari, 16, is a food secure participant of ZOE Ministry’s Hope Companions program. His parents were killed while hiding in the jungle during the Rwandan genocide in 1994. Now, he raises chickens and has a home on a mountaintop. “The thing that got me was the smile he had when I asked if I could take his picture in front of his own bed … with the mosquito net,” Lonnie Rhodes said. “The smile was a million dollars.” Rhodes was one of 13 Florida United Methodists who traveled to Kigali, Rwanda, this summer through a mission trip coordinated by the East Central District of the Florida Conference to see the ministry in action and determine what they can do back home to help. Photo by Lonnie Rhodes. Photo #10-1540. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1214, 09/10/10. Florida United Methodists look on as a Rwandan orphan shares his gift of dancing. The boy is one of more than 10,000 children and youth participating in ZOE Ministry’s Hope Companions program, which helps children orphaned by wars, crimes, HIV/AIDS and other illnesses reconnect with their communities and become economically self-sufficient. Thirteen Florida United Methodists traveled to Kigali, Rwanda, this summer through a mission trip coordinated by the East Central District of the Florida Conference to see the ministry in action and determine what they can do back home to help. Photo by Lonnie Rhodes. Photo #10-1539. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1214, 09/10/10. Jean Marie is one of more than 10,000 children and youth participating in ZOE Ministry’s Hope Companions program, which helps children orphaned by wars, crimes, HIV/AIDS and other illnesses reconnect with their communities and become economically self-sufficient. Thirteen Florida United Methodists traveled to Kigali, Rwanda, this summer through a mission trip coordinated by the East Central District of the Florida Conference to see the ministry in action and determine what they can do back home to help. Photo by Lonnie Rhodes. Photo #10-1538. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1214, 09/10/10. The Rev. Greer Jensen looks at artwork created by children who participated in the church’s first Summer Food Service Program June 5-Aug. 20. The drawings were displayed in the sanctuary at Anthony United Methodist Church Aug. 22 during the morning’s worship service, which celebrated the children who had participated in the meal program. Greer said members from Anthony and Sparr United Methodist churches helped make the program a success. “We heard the call within our congregations to reach out to the least, last and the lost,” Jensen said. “And what better way to fulfill the Great Commission than to help these families.” Photo by J.A. Buchholz. Photo #10-1537. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1213, 09/07/10. Suzon Teuton, a member at Anthony United Methodist Church, talks with Austin and Levity Dunlap, 9 and 4 (back), and another child after worship Aug. 22. The children and others who participated in the federal Summer Food Service Program at the church June 5-Aug. 20 sang during the service. The church served as a meal site under the food program for the first time this summer. Each weekday from noon to 3:30 p.m., the children made crafts, played games, had snacks and received lunch that church volunteers delivered from Sparr Elementary School. Teuton also taught them songs. Photo by J.A. Buchholz. Photo #10-1536. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1213, 09/07/10. Children who participated in the federal Summer Food Service Program at Anthony United Methodist Church June 5-Aug. 20 sing during the worship service Aug. 22. This year was the first time the church participated as a meal site. Attendance varied each weekday, with as few as five and as many as 15 children participating at the church from noon to 3:30 p.m. They made crafts, played games, had snacks and received lunch that church volunteers delivered from Sparr Elementary School. Photo by J.A. Buchholz. Photo #10-1535. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1213, 09/07/10. Children take time for arts and crafts during the second of two weeklong day camps offered at the Florida Conference’s Centenary Camp in northwest Florida, just as they would during a week of summer camp at one of the conference’s other camp sites. Camps and retreat ministry leaders say day camps provide an introduction to camp life for children who have no camping experience and an alternative for those who don’t have many opportunities to be engaged in meaningful activities during the summer. The day camps were offered for the first time this year, in part to reach out the area’s Hispanic community. Photo courtesy of Donna Bruns. Photo #10-1534. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1212, 09/03/10. Children attending day camp at the Florida Conference’s Centenary Camp in Quincy in August participate in an activity designed to teach them team building skills. During the five-day camp, the children also learned how to swim, heard Bible stories, sang songs and made arts and crafts. The camp offered two weeklong day camps for the first time this year, in part to reach out the area’s Hispanic community. Photo courtesy of Donna Bruns. Photo #10-1533. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1212, 09/03/10. Children use floats while learning to swim in the pool at the Florida Conference’s Centenary Camp in Quincy during the second week of two weeklong day camps, offered for the first time this summer at the northwest Florida camp. The lessons were in response to statistics showing that minority kids and poor ones are less likely to take swim lessons, more likely to fear the water and more likely to drown. The children also learned Bible stories and songs and made arts and crafts. Photo courtesy of Donna Bruns. Photo #10-1532. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1212, 09/03/10. College students participate in community night at ACCESS218, a ministry for young adults at CrossRoad United Methodist Church in Jacksonville. Photo courtesy of ACCESS218. File photo #08-0780. Originally accompanied e-Review Florida UMNS #0816, 03/19/08. Also accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1210, 08/18/10. Members of a first-ever youth delegation vote during the 2007 Florida Annual Conference Event for lay delegates to the 2008 General Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. The delegation was part of conference efforts to strengthen ministry for and with youth and young adults and foster their development as conference leaders. Photo by Greg Moore. File photo #07-0589. Originally accompanied e-Review Florida UMNS #0685, 06/09/07. Also accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1210, 08/18/10. Dave Sippel says he’ll work to connect young people from across the conference and those who are in ministry with them, providing resources and support that help them grow as leaders and discern their call to ministry. Sippel joined the Florida Conference staff July 1 as director of Ministries with Young People. Photo by Don Youngs. Photo #10-1531. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1210, 08/18/10. Staff members of Creating Divine Order, which specializes in helping seniors downsize and move into smaller living spaces, pack up a living room. The Rev. Ann Hutchens, who has 42 years of ministerial experience, started the business with a friend in 2007, two years after retiring as an active clergy member of the Florida Conference, because she felt called to continue her ministry of service. Photo courtesy of the Rev. Ann Hutchens. Photo #10-1530. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1209, 08/16/10. The Rev. Ann Hutchens unpacks a client’s belongings after a move. It’s one service her business, Creating Divine Order, provides to help seniors downsize and move into smaller living spaces. Hutchens, who has 42 years of ministerial experience, started the business with a friend in 2007, two years after retiring as an active clergy member of the Florida Conference, because she felt called to continue her ministry of service. Photo courtesy of the Rev. Ann Hutchens. Photo #10-1529. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1209, 08/16/10. The Rev. Wee-Li Tan stands outside the Florida United Methodist Center in Lakeland, which houses the Florida United Methodist Foundation. Tan becomes the fifth president of the foundation this fall, succeeding the Rev. Tom Martson, who is retiring after 18 years of service. Photo by Suzanne McGovern. Photo #10-1528. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1208, 08/15/10. Middle school campers take a hike on the trails at the Warren W. Willis United Methodist Camp in Fruitland Park in July during a week of summer camp. About 3,600 campers were expected to attend this year’s nine weeks of classic camp, off campus opportunities for high school students on the Appalachian Trail and in the Florida wilderness, and an additional Performing Arts Camp. Photo by Derek Maul. Photo #10-1527. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1207, 08/10/10. Warren W. Willis United Methodist summer camp counselor Merry Beard is a veteran counselor who says the camp experience helps her grow spiritually. “I always feel closer to God when I’m teaching others about him,” she said. Photo by Derek Maul. Photo #10-1526. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1207, 08/10/10. High school students gather on the dock for a small-group session in July during a week of summer camp at the Warren W. Willis United Methodist Camp in Fruitland Park. About 3,600 campers were expected to attend this year’s nine weeks of classic camp, off campus opportunities for high school students on the Appalachian Trail and in the Florida wilderness, and an additional Performing Arts Camp. Photo by Derek Maul. Photo #10-1525. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1207, 08/10/10. Warren W. Willis United Methodist Camp director Mike Standifer makes the rounds during a week at camp. About 3,600 campers were expected to attend this year’s nine weeks of classic camp, off campus opportunities for high school students on the Appalachian Trail and in the Florida wilderness, and an additional Performing Arts Camp. Photo by Derek Maul. Photo #10-1524. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1207, 08/10/10. A nurse watches over patients at an eye hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan, in this 2007 file photograph. Eye care is one of the health services that relief groups offer in Afghanistan. Daniel Terry, 64, a United Methodist layman, was among the 10 volunteer members of an international aid team who were killed in a remote part of Afghanistan. A UMNS file photo by David Wildman. Photo #10-1523 Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1205, 08/09/10. Daniel Terry, 64, a United Methodist layman, was among the 10 volunteer members of an international aid team who were killed in a remote part of Afghanistan. A UMNS photo courtesy of International Assistance Mission. Photo #10-1522. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1205, 08/09/10. Randy Reynolds helps work release inmates at the Alachua County jail delve into the big questions of faith through the Alpha course on basic Christian beliefs. Photo courtesy of Gail Schneider Mitchell. File photo #06-438. Originally accompanied e-Review Florida UMNS #0551, 09/22/06. Also accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1204, 08/05/10. The Rev. Beth Fogle-Miller explains a proposal to create two groups designed to help conference ministries become more aware of what each is doing and better connect to support the work and ministry of the local church during a session of the 2010 Florida Annual Conference Event in June. Laity and clergy approved the measure. Fogle-Miller is director of Florida Conference Connectional Ministries. Photo by Dave Summerill. Photo #10-1521. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1203, 08/05/10. Children get ready to eat lunch at Rogers Memorial United Methodist Church in Bradenton. The church served as a Summer Food Service Program site in 2009, helping fill the gap for school children during the summer when they wouldn’t get the benefit of a school lunch. Photo by Derek Maul. Photo #09-1280. Originally accompanied e-Review Florida UMNS #1062, 08/6/09. Also accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1202, 07/24/10. Suzie Asa shares details about a partnership between churches in her community to help youth participate in the summer meal program at the local high school with members attending Florida Advocacy Days at Children’s Week at the state capitol. Asa is director of children and family ministries at Keystone United Methodist Church in Keystone Heights. About 75 Methodists from the Florida Conference and African Methodist Episcopal Church, 11th Episcopal District, gathered in Tallahassee April 11-13 to learn about legislation affecting children and families and meet with legislators to urge them to support specific actions on bills being considered. Photo by Tita Parham. Photo #10-1520. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1202, 07/24/10. Madame Paul gives a medicine-sized cup portion of strawberry soda to some of the 97 children she and three other women care for in a house Paul rents. It is one of several orphanages a group of Florida Conference leaders visited during a trip to Haiti in May that hopes to become part of the Global Orphan Project network, which helps build communities that sustain orphans around the world. Photo by Vee Stepelton. Photo #10-1457. Originally accompanied e-Review Florida UMNS #1178, 06/03/10. Also accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1201, 07/24/10. Paulette West tells laity and clergy attending the 2010 Florida Annual Conference Event about the experience of a non-Florida mission team that chartered a plane to Haiti soon after the earthquake Jan. 12 to assist with recovery efforts, without notifying anyone of its plans. The team was not allowed to enter Haiti and required assistance from UMCOR representatives to return home. West, who serves as executive director of United Methodist Volunteers in Mission, Southeastern Jurisdiction, shared the story to emphasize the importance of working through established aid channels to help the Haitian people. Photo by Dave Summerill. Photo #10-1519. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1201, 07/24/10. The Rev. Beth Fogle-Miller urges laity and clergy attending the 2010 Florida Annual Conference Event not to become what she calls “disaster cowboys” — people who are so eager to help the people of Haiti recover from the earthquake Jan. 12 that they don’t go through established aid channels. Fogle-Miller is director of Florida Conference Connectional Ministries. Photo by Dave Summerill. Photo #10-1518. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1201, 07/24/10. The Rev. Jack Jackson (center), pastor at Christ United Methodist Church in Lakeland, visits with the Rev. Steve Gober (left), president of the main seminary in Costa Rica, and Bishop Luis Palomo of the Iglesia Evangelica Metodista de Costa Rica, the primary Methodist denomination in Costa Rica. Jackson spoke at the Methodist church's annual Pastor’s School in April. Photo courtesy of Jack Jackson. Photo #10-1517. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1200, 07/23/10. Jessica Neely (right), a member at Grace United Methodist Church in Ft. Myers, tells Florida Conference laity and clergy that her church “egged” neighbors in the community surrounding the church. It was part of an Easter outreach in which the church delivered eggs filled with candy as a way of inviting residents to church. Neely and the Rev. Joretha Capers (left), pastor at Ebenezer United Methodist Church in Miami, were part of a panel of conference clergy and laity that shared what their churches are doing to help members mature as disciples and reach out to their communities during the Center for Congregational Excellence report at the 2010 Florida Annual Conference Event in June. Photo by Dave Summerill. Photo #10-1516. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1199, 07/21/10. With the title “A Disciple is a Follower of Jesus Christ for Life,” members consider a handout describing the phases of growth as a disciple during a report of the Center for Congregational Excellence at the 2010 Florida Annual Conference Event in June. Photo by Dave Summerill. Photo #10-1515. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1199, 07/21/10. Laity and clergy members discuss the definition of a church member versus a disciple during a report of the Center for Congregational Excellence at the 2010 Florida Annual Conference Event in June. Photo by Dave Summerill. Photo #10-1514. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1199, 07/21/10. Laney Burney (right) instructs a participant attending a fingerweaving class during the Florida Conference Committee on Native American Ministry annual retreat May 14-16. Burney learned the art of fingerweaving while delving deeper into her Creek heritage and participating in Native American re-enactments depicting early 1880s camp life. Photo by J.A. Buchholz. Photo #10-1513. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1198, 07/15/10. Felip McMakin practices the art of fingerweaving at the Committee on Native American Ministry (CONAM) annual retreat May 14-16. She said the weekend helped her learn ways to incorporate her Cherokee heritage into her American day-to-day living. Photo by J.A. Buchholz. Photo #10-1512. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1198, 07/15/10. Kaltouma Zakaria Moussa relaxes beneath a new mosquito net provided by the Nothing But Nets campaign at her home in a camp near Goz Beida, Chad. A UMNS file photo by Mike DuBose. Photo #10-1398. Originally accompanied e-Review Florida UMNS #1136, 02/04/10. Also  accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1196, 07/12/10. “Five children died during this video,” the Rev. Audrey Warren tells members attending the 2010 Florida Annual Conference Event after they watched an informational video about The United Methodist Church’s “Imagine No Malaria” initiative. One child dies of malaria every 30 seconds, according to the video. Warren is leading the conference’s task force for the initiative and shared details about the campaign with lay and clergy members of the conference June 11. Photo by Dave Summerill. Photo #10-1511. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1196, 07/12/10. Participants attending the recent “A Sustainable Faith: Justice in the Real World” conference at The Missio Dei Community at Albright United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg take part in a responsive prayer. Photo by Derek Maul. Photo #10-1510. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1195, 07/08/10. Members of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers share their stories fighting for fair wages and safe working conditions for farm workers with participants at the recent “A Sustainable Faith: Justice in the Real World” conference. As late as 2008 there were cases of farm workers locked in box trucks and released only to work. Many workers in Florida’s tomato fields earn pennies per 32-pound bucket picked. In 1978 workers earned just 40 cents per bucket. Today, the rate is 72 cents. The Missio Dei Community, an interdenominational congregation housed at Albright United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg, helped sponsor the conference. Photo by Derek Maul. Photo #10-1509. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1195, 07/08/10. “Missio Dei doesn’t have a mission,” says the Rev. Joe Esposito, co-pastor of The Missio Dei Community. “It is mission.” Missio Dei is an emergent, interdenominational congregation housed at Albright United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg. It helped sponsor the recent “A Sustainable Faith: Justice in the Real World” conference, held at the St. Petersburg church. Photo by Derek Maul. Photo #10-1508. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1195, 07/08/10. Keynote speaker Shane Claiborne tells participants at the “A Sustainable Faith: Justice in the Real World” conference that eradicating poverty is only possible when “we first are willing to make poverty personal.” “We can’t be a voice for the voiceless without listening to their voices,” he said. Claiborne is author of “The Irresistible Revolution” and a speaker who shares his experience practicing the principles he intones while living in a poor neighborhood in Philadelphia. The Missio Dei Community, an interdenominational congregation housed at Albright United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg, helped sponsor the conference. Photo by Derek Maul. Photo #10-1507. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1195, 07/08/10. Thousands of paper cut-out and painted hand prints made by children from across Florida hang in the Florida Capitol rotunda during Children’s Week, a weeklong annual advocacy event designed to raise awareness about children’s issues that coincides with the state’s spring legislative session. Photo by Tita Parham. Photo #10-1506. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1193, 07/06/10. Children from a Tallahassee school sing on the steps of the Florida Capitol April 13 to kick off a press conference during Children’s Week, a weeklong annual advocacy event designed to raise awareness about children’s issues that coincides with the state’s spring legislative session. Photo by Tita Parham. Photo #10-1505. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1193, 07/06/10. Florida Conference Bishop Timothy Whitaker concludes a meeting with Republican Sen. Durell Peaden from Crestview April 13 during Florida Advocacy Days at Children’s Week. The meeting was one of more than a dozen Florida Methodists had with legislators to urge them to support bills that would help Florida children and families struggling with food and housing issues. About 75 Methodists participated in the annual advocacy event to learn about key issues affecting children and families before meeting with legislators. The event is a joint effort between United Way of Florida, Florida Impact, Florida Conference Justice and Outreach Ministries, and the African Methodist Episcopal Church, 11th Episcopal District. Photo by Tita Parham. Photo #10-1504. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1193, 07/06/10. Florida Methodists march to the state capitol April 13 to meet with legislators and urge them to support bills that would help Florida children and families struggling with food and housing issues. The meetings were part of Florida Advocacy Days at Children’s Week April 11-13 during the state’s spring legislative session. The annual event is a joint effort between United Way of Florida, Florida Impact, Florida Conference Justice and Outreach Ministries, and the African Methodist Episcopal Church, 11th Episcopal District. Photo by Tita Parham. Photo #10-1503. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1193, 07/06/10. “There is every possibility, like 98 percent, that the cap bill will be passed,” Mark Hendrickson tells about 75 Florida Methodists attending Florida Advocacy Days at Children’s Week April 11-13. Hendrickson, a board member with the Florida Housing Coalition, was referring to bills calling for the repeal of a cap on money going to a state trust fund for affordable housing. By the end of the legislative session, the bills had unexpectedly not made it to the floor for a vote, effectively killing them. During the annual event, members learn about key issues affecting children and families in preparation for visits with state legislators. The event is a joint effort between United Way of Florida, Florida Impact, Florida Conference Justice and Outreach Ministries, and the African Methodist Episcopal Church, 11th Episcopal District. Photo by Tita Parham. Photo #10-1502. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1193, 07/06/10. Florida Methodists attending Florida Advocacy Days at Children’s Week April 11-13 take notes on key issues affecting children and families in preparation for visits with state legislators the next day. The annual event, held during the state’s spring legislative session, is a joint effort between United Way of Florida, Florida Impact, Florida Conference Justice and Outreach Ministries, and the African Methodist Episcopal Church, 11th Episcopal District. Photo by Tita Parham. Photo #10-1501. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1193, 07/06/10. Debra Susie, executive director of Tallahassee-based advocacy group Florida Impact, gives about 75 Florida Methodists specific instructions on what to say to legislators when meeting with them the next day. Susie’s comments were part of the training portion of Florida Advocacy Days at Children’s Week April 11-13 during the state’s spring legislative session. During the annual event, members learn about key issues affecting children and families in preparation for visits with state legislators. The event is a joint effort between United Way of Florida, Florida Impact, Florida Conference Justice and Outreach Ministries, and the African Methodist Episcopal Church, 11th Episcopal District. Photo by Tita Parham. Photo #10-1500. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1193, 07/06/10. The Revs. Ken Hamilton and Pam Cahoon encourage the Rev. Freddie Tellis to vote for legislation supporting children and families in a role-play simulating a visit with a state legislator. It was part of Florida Advocacy Days at Children’s Week April 11-13 during the state’s spring legislative session. About 75 Florida Methodists met to learn about key issues affecting children and families in preparation for visits with state legislators. The annual event is a joint effort between United Way of Florida, Florida Impact, Florida Conference Justice and Outreach Ministries, and the African Methodist Episcopal Church, 11th Episcopal District. Hamilton is pastor at Tallahassee Heights United Methodist Church in Tallahassee, Cahoon is director of C.R.O.S. Ministries (Christians Reaching Out to Society) in Lake Worth, and Tellis is pastor at Mt. Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church in Havana. Photo by Tita Parham. Photo #10-1499. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1193, 07/06/10. Members of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, 11th Episcopal District (front row), wait for a press conference of key leaders advocating for children’s issues at the state capitol in Tallahassee to begin. Florida Conference Bishop Timothy Whitaker was one of the speakers, dedicating thousands of paper cut-out and painted hand prints made by children from across the state that were hung in the capitol’s rotunda. The women’s visit to the capitol was part of Florida Advocacy Days at Children’s Week April 11-13 during the state’s spring legislative session. The annual event is a joint effort between United Way of Florida, Florida Impact, Florida Conference Justice and Outreach Ministries, and the African Methodist Episcopal Church, 11th Episcopal District. Photo by Tita Parham. Photo #10-1498. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1193, 07/06/10. Lynnette Fields challenges members attending the 2010 Florida Annual Conference Event June 11 to do their part to make the modern-day miracle of ending childhood hunger in Florida a reality. Fields is executive director of servant ministries at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Orlando and the Florida Conference’s representative to the Partnership to End Childhood Hunger, comprised of more than 50 organizations throughout the state that are implementing a multi-year, strategic 10-point plan to end childhood hunger in Florida in 10 years. Photo by Dave Summerill. Photo #10-1497. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1192, 07/01/10. “One out of every four children in our state is hungry,” the Rev. Pam Cahoon tells members attending the 2010 Florida Annual Conference Event June 11. “People are dying — dying in every one of our communities What would Jesus have us do? We know what Jesus did. Do something. We can do it.” Cahoon is director of C.R.O.S. (Christians Reaching Out To Society) in Lake Worth and a leader in organizing Florida Conference United Methodists to support the conference’s social witness mission to end childhood hunger and poverty in Florida. Photo by Dave Summerill. Photo #10-1496. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1192, 07/01/10. Stan Doerr, president and chief executive officer of ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization), shows Florida Conference district superintendents and other leaders how aluminum cans are used in place of soil as an anchor for the roots of the plant. It is an example of the “urban gardening” being implemented at ECHO. The December 2009 trip to ECHO was part of Florida Conference Bishop Timothy Whitaker’s annual fall retreat with conference leaders. File photo by Erik J. Alsgaard. Photo #10-1373. Originally accompanied e-Review Florida UMNS #1126, 01/21/10. Also accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1192, 07/01/10. Stan Doerr tells members attending the 2010 Florida Annual Conference Event June 11 that he never wants a child to die of hunger because he doesn’t have the resources to help. As president and chief executive officer of ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization) in Ft. Myers, he does. ECHO works with more than 3,000 organizations in 180 countries, Doerr said, to provide the tools missionaries and indigenous people need to address hunger locally. Photo by Dave Summerill. Photo #10-1495. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1192, 07/01/10. Florida Conference Bishop Timothy Whitaker (front right), Lakeland Mayor Gow Fields (left) and other conference leaders cut the ribbon June 12 at the consecration ceremony for the new Florida United Methodist Center in downtown Lakeland. Photo by Alain Boniec. Photo #10-1494. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1191, 06/29/10. The new Florida United Methodist Center is located at 450 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Lakeland, FL 33815-1522. Photo by Frank North. Photo #10-1493. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1191, 06/29/10. Members share a phrase or word that meant something in particular to them from the passage the Rev. Juanita Rasmus read during her Bible study June 11 at the 2010 Florida Annual Conference Event. Rasmus is co-pastor at St. John’s Downtown United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas. Photo by Linda Beavers. Photo #10-1492. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1190, 06/28/10. The Rev. Jaunita Rasmus teaches the Lectio Divina or “divine reading” — a spiritual practice begun centuries ago to teach scripture and increase communion with God — to help laity and clergy learn how to “make space and time” for God. Rasmus, co-pastor at St. John’s Downtown United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas, was the Bible study leader during the 2010 Florida Annual Conference Event June 10-12. Photo by Dave Summerill. Photo #10-1491. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1190, 06/28/10. Brigitte Gynther, with the Rev. David Berkey, asks members who just watched the film series “Reality of Poverty in the U.S. and World Shared on Film” June 9 at the Lakeland Center to take the unfair practices many farm workers endure into consideration when making food purchases and put pressure on large grocery chains to buy only from farms that provide safe working conditions and fair wages. Gynther works with Interfaith Action of Southwest Florida. Berkey is executive director of the conference’s camps and retreat ministries and facilitator of the film showing and discussion. The session and eight classes were offered a day before the official start of the 2010 Florida Annual Conference Event. Photo by Angie Bechanan. Photo #10-1490. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1189, 06/25/10. What's that tomato or coffee bean worth? Members find out watching “Reality of Poverty in the U.S. and World Shared on Film” shown June 9 at the Lakeland Center. The film series shared the abusive and unsafe working conditions some Florida farm workers face and unfair pricing affecting the livelihoods of Ethiopian coffee farmers. It and eight classes were offered a day before the official start of the 2010 Florida Annual Conference Event to help clergy and laity prepare for discussions during the annual session and provide information to help members be more effective in their local church ministries. Photo by Angie Bechanan. Photo #10-1489. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1189, 06/25/10. The Rev. Catherine Fluck-Price prays with a layperson at the service of licensing, commissioning and ordination June 11 during the 2010 Florida Annual Conference Event. Nearly 30 people accepted Florida Conference Bishop Timothy Whitaker’s invitation to individuals considering a call to ministry to join him, Fluck-Price or the Rev. David Dodge, executive director of the conference Center for Clergy Excellence, at the front of the Lakeland Center arena for a moment of prayer. Photo by Dave Summerill. Photo #10-1488. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1188, 06/23/10. The Rev. David Allen is ordained an elder June 11 during the 2010 Florida Annual Conference Event in Lakeland. He was one of 26 men and 18 women licensed, commissioned and ordained during the evening service at the Lakeland Center. The average age of the 18 candidates ordained elder and deacon was 44. Photo by Linda Beavers. Photo #10-1487. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1188, 06/23/10. Candidates to be commissioned provisional elders and deacons stand while lay and clergy members and guests respond affirmatively when asked by Florida Conference Bishop Timothy Whitaker if they trust the candidates “are called by God’s grace to be commissioned” and will “uphold” the candidates in their ministry. The candidates were among the 26 men and 18 women licensed, commissioned and ordained June 11 at the Lakeland Center during the 2010 Florida Annual Conference Event. Photo by Dave Summerill. Photo #10-1486. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1188, 06/23/10. Florida Conference Bishop Timothy Whitaker tells candidates preparing to be ordained elder they have a responsibility in “duly administering” the sacrament of communion. That means looking around to see who is — and who is not — at the table. “The sacrament is not duly administered,” he said, “until the table looks like the community.” Twenty-six men and 18 women were licensed, commissioned and ordained June 11 at the Lakeland Center during the 2010 Florida Annual Conference Event. Photo by Dave Summerill. Photo #10-1485. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1188, 06/23/10. A candle is lit as the name of a loved one is read at the memorial service for clergy and clergy spouses who died during the past conference year. A candle was lit for each of the 48 people remembered. The service was held June 10 at the 2010 Florida Annual Event in Lakeland. Photo by Dave Summerill. Photo #10-1484. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1187, 06/22/10. The Rev. Dr. Larry Rankin challenges lay and clergy members and guests to continue the legacy of clergy and clergy spouses who died during the past conference year. “Legacy bears fruit,” Rankin said at the memorial service June 10 during the 2010 Florida Annual Conference Event. “The body of Christ of the saints continues with us today. This is why Christian ministry thrives — because of this unbroken line of splendor for over 2,000 years. And it has no end.” Photo by Dave Summerill. Photo #10-1483. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1187, 06/22/10. Lay and clergy members attending the 2010 Florida Annual Conference Even take a vote June 11 during the report on the conference’s finances, pension and health benefits, and property insurance programs. Photo by Dave Summerill. Photo #10-1482.Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1186, 06/18/10. The Rev. David Harris, senior pastor at Estero United Methodist Church, gets his blood pressure checked at the health fair offered two days of the 2010 Florida Annual Conference Event in Lakeland June 10-12. It’s part of a conference emphasis to encourage clergy to adopt healthier lifestyles so they can be more effective in ministry. Photo by Angie Bechanan. Photo #10-1481. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1186, 06/18/10. With the theme song from “Indiana Jones” in the background and a montage of well-known clips of movie characters celebrating victories, Mickey Wilson told nearly 1,800 lay and clergy members attending the 2010 Florida Annual Conference Event that “although we aren’t fully recovered, things are getting better — much better.” Wilson is treasurer and director of administrative services for the conference. He made that assessment for a promising financial outlook June 11 in his report from the Conference Council on Finance and Administration. Photo by Dave Summerill. Photo #10-1480. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1186, 06/18/10.| A member prays after being invited by Bishop Peter Weaver to “come to the Lord’s Supper, where he might eradicate our poverty of spirit so we might be one with Christ in the mission of eradicating extreme poverty for the world.” Weaver is bishop of the New England Annual Conference and was guest preacher at the communion service, held June 10 during this year’s Florida Annual Conference Event. The nearly three-day annual gathering convened under the theme “Transforming the World by Eradicating Extreme Poverty.” Photo by Angie Bechanan. Photo #10-1479. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1185, 06/16/10. Members take communion after Bishop Peter Weaver tells them the “gates on our consciousness” must be unlocked so attitudes toward the poor can be broadened and those who are materially blessed can have meaningful relationships with those who are not. Only when this poverty of relationships and spirits is restored, he said, can there be an end to poverty. Weaver is bishop of the New England Annual Conference and was guest preacher at the communion service, held June 10 during this year’s Florida Annual Conference Event. The nearly three-day annual gathering convened under the theme “Transforming the World by Eradicating Extreme Poverty.” Photo by Angie Bechanan. Photo #10-1478. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1185, 06/16/10. Members attending the communion service June 10 at the 2010 Florida Annual Conference Event get ready for worship through the music of the praise band from McCabe United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg before guest preacher Bishop Peter Weaver of the New England Annual Conference shares the evening’s message. Photo by Dave Summerill. Photo #10-1477. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1185, 06/16/10. Bishop Peter Weaver asks laity and clergy attending the communion service June 10 at the 2010 Florida Annual Conference Event to snap their fingers every second. Speaking in time to the beat of their snapping, he said it takes only a matter of seconds for a child to die of preventable causes (estimates vary from three to 60 depending on the cause). But it’s “not about the beat,” Weaver said. “It’s about the hearts of children that stop beating.” Weaver is bishop of the New England Annual Conference and was guest preacher at the service. The theme of the nearly three-day annual gathering was “Transforming the World by Eradicating Extreme Poverty.” Photo by Dave Summerill. Photo #10-1476. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1185, 06/16/10. Lay and clergy members attending the opening session of the 2010 Florida Annual Conference Event June 10 take a step forward in the fight to end global hunger by writing letters to their House representatives, asking them to urge Congress to fully fund the federal international affairs budget, which provides funding for hunger-, poverty- and disease-prevention programs abroad. The letter writing campaign took place during the Rev. David Beckmann’s remarks on efforts to eliminate extreme poverty around the world. Beckmann is president of Bread for the World, a hunger relief group that works with churches and other organizations to help people advocate for an end to policies and programs that perpetuate hunger.” Photo by Angie Bechanan. Photo #10-1475. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1184, 06/15/10. Speaking to lay and clergy members attending the opening session of the 2010 Florida Annual Conference Event June 10, the Rev. David Beckmann said eradicating extreme poverty really is possible, through faith-based, bipartisan political advocacy efforts. During the last three to four decades, they’ve resulted in 500 million fewer people living in poverty and 21,000 fewer children dying daily from preventable causes. “The remaining carnage (children’s deaths) is a damn scandal,” he said. “But the changes we’ve seen in recent decades is a miracle.” Beckmann is president of Bread for The World, a hunger relief group that works with churches and other organizations to help people advocate for an end to policies and programs that perpetuate hunger. Photo by Dave Summerill. Photo #10-1474. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1184, 06/15/10. The Rev. David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World, answers questions about the organization’s work and extreme hunger in the world from lay and clergy members attending the opening session of the 2010 Florida Annual Conference Event June 10. When asked if Bread for the World encounters any opposition, Beckmann said only that the comment is always “everything else is so important.” “What that translates to,” he said, “is that everything else is more important than hungry kids.” The nearly three-day annual business session convened under the theme “Transforming the World by Eradicating Extreme.” Photo by Dave Summerill. Photo #10-1473. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1183, 06/15/10. Ushers and conference staff collect letters lay and clergy members attending the opening session of the 2010 Florida Annual Conference Event June 10 have written to their representatives asking them to urge Congress to fully fund the federal international affairs budget, which provides funding for hunger-, poverty- and disease-prevention programs abroad. The letter writing campaign took place during the Rev. David Beckmann’s remarks on efforts to eliminate extreme poverty around the world. The letters were collected and then taken to the altar to be blessed. Beckmann is president of Bread for the World, which helps churches, individuals and organizations organize to change policies, programs and conditions that enable hunger to continue. Photo by Dave Summerill. Photo #10-1472. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1183, 06/15/10. A member attending the opening session of the 2010 Florida Annual Conference Event June 10 writes a personal letter that will accompany a sample letter to her representative asking that Congress fully fund the federal international affairs budget, which provides funding for hunger-, poverty- and disease-prevention programs abroad. The letter writing campaign took place during the Rev. David Beckmann’s remarks on efforts to eliminate extreme poverty around the world. Beckmann is president of Bread for the World, which helps churches, individuals and organizations organize to change policies, programs and conditions that enable hunger to continue. Photo by Angie Bechanan. Photo #10-1471. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1183, 06/15/10. Lay and clergy members attending the opening session of the 2010 Florida Annual Conference Event June 10 address sample letters to their House representatives, asking them to urge Congress to fully fund the federal international affairs budget, which provides funding for hunger-, poverty- and disease-prevention programs abroad. The letter writing campaign took place during the Rev. David Beckmann’s remarks on efforts to eliminate extreme poverty around the world. Beckmann is president of Bread for the World, which helps churches, individuals and organizations organize to change policies, programs and conditions that enable hunger to continue. Photo by Dave Summerill. Photo #10-1470. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1183, 06/15/10. The Rev. David Beckmann tells lay and clergy members attending the opening session of the 2010 Florida Annual Conference Event June 10 that miraculous strides have been made toward eliminating global hunger, but there’s much more to do. Worldwide, he said, 1.2 billion people live on less than $1.25 a day, and in the United States, nearly one in four children — 16.7 million — lives in a household that struggles to put food on the table. Beckmann is president of Bread for the World, which helps churches, individuals and organizations organize to change policies, programs and conditions that enable hunger to continue. Photo by Dave Summerill. Photo #10-1469. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1183, 06/15/10. Todd Spear, a member at Seminole Heights United Methodist Church in Tampa, looks through materials on the United Methodist Committee on Relief’s One-Ton Challenge and other social justice initiatives at a class on salty service to the world. It was one of nine educational and informational sessions offered for laity and clergy June 9, a day before the official start of the 2010 Florida Annual Conference Event at the Lakeland Center. Photo by Angie Bechanan. Photo #10-1468. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1182, 06/14/10. The answers members seek for transformation of themselves and their churches are not in Nashville, home of many denominational agencies, or Lakeland, headquarters of the Florida Conference administrative and ministry offices, the Rev. Dr. Jim Harnish, senior pastor at Hyde Park United Methodist Church in Tampa, tells participants during his class “Transformed Leaders for Transforming Congregations.” Instead, he says, help and hope for churches are in the local church. Harnish taught one of eight classes, along with a film and discussion on poverty, offered to lay and clergy June 9, a day before the official start of the 2010 Florida Annual Conference Event at the Lakeland Center. Photo by Angie Bechanan. Photo #10-1467. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1182, 06/14/10. Gloria Cramer (front), a member at First United Methodist Church in Hobe Sound, and other participants take a survey on prayer before considering what prayer really means during the class “Making Prayer a Priority.” The Rev. Dr. Harold Lewis, director of Black Congregational Excellence for the Florida Conference, taught the session, which was one of eight, along with a film and discussion on poverty, offered to laity and clergy June 9, a day before the official start of the 2010 Florida Annual Conference Event at the Lakeland Center. Photo by Angie Bechanan. Photo #10-1466. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1182, 06/14/10. In his class “Making Prayer a Priority,” the Rev. Dr. Harold Lewis tells participants prayer is not a way to impress God and others hearing a prayer. Instead, prayer is having a “love relationship” with God. The class was one of eight, along with a film and discussion on poverty, offered to laity and clergy June 9, a day before the official start of the 2010 Florida Annual Conference Event at the Lakeland Center. Lewis is director of Black Congregational Excellence for the Florida Conference. Photo by Angie Bechanan. Photo #10-1465. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1182, 06/14/10. Florida Conference lay members wait to greet Florida Gov. Charlie Crist after his message during the laity session June 10 at the 2010 Florida Annual Conference Event. Crist, who was the guest speaker at the lay gathering, is a member of First United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg, where his family has worshipped for five generations. Photo by Angie Bechanan. Photo #10-1464. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1181, 06/12/10. Members thank Florida Gov. Charlie Crist for sharing personal details about his life and faith during the laity session June 10 at the 2010 Florida Annual Conference Event. Crist is a member of First United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg, where his family has worshipped for five generations. Photo by Angie Bechanan. Photo by Angie Bechanan. Photo #10-1463. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1181, 06/12/10. Florida Gov. Charlie Crist told hundreds of members attending the laity session June 10 at the 2010 Florida Annual Conference Event that he appreciated the opportunity to talk about his faith, something he is not often able to do. “Lessons I was taught by my family and church have stuck with me all these years,” he said, adding that throughout his time in public service he has always tried to use those lessons to do what is right. Crist is a member of First United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg, where his family has worshipped for five generations. Photo by Dave Summerill. Photo #10-1462. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1181, 06/12/10. Children in cribs are placed under makeshift tents at Grace Children’s Hospital in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, after the earthquake, which damaged hospital buildings. The hospital is the flagship ministry of International Child Care, of which the Rev. Lynne Austin is a board member. Austin, now an elder in the California-Pacific Conference of The United Methodist Church, grew up in Central Florida, attending First United Methodist Church in Winter Park. She will help kick off “reBuild Haiti” June 13, a multi-church project of the Florida Conference’s East Central District. Photo courtesy of the Rev. Lynne Austin. Photo #10-1461. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1179, 06/08/10. The Rev. Lynne Austin spends time with a child at Grace Children’s Hospital in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, the flagship ministry of International Child Care, of which Austin is a board member. Austin, now an elder in the California-Pacific Conference of The United Methodist Church, grew up in Central Florida, attending First United Methodist Church in Winter Park. She will help kick off “reBuild Haiti” June 13, a multi-church project of the Florida Conference’s East Central District. Photo courtesy of First United Methodist Church in Winter Park. Photo #10-1460. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1179, 06/08/10. Many Haitians are still living in tent cities after their homes were damaged or destroyed in the Jan. 12 earthquake. It’s a growing concern now that the Atlantic hurricane season has begun. Photo by Bill Harley. Photo #10-1459. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1178, 06/03/10. Sunny Wilmot (right) works with Catherine Bruno, 12, as she completes her application for temporary protected status at an immigration clinic sponsored by the Florida Conference Justice For Our Neighbors ministry at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Orlando. File photo by Tita Parham. Photo #10-1440. Originally accompanied e-Review Florida UMNS #1172, 05/12/10. Also accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1178, 06/03/10. Bill Harley says many of the children he and other Florida Conference leaders met while visiting damaged areas of Haiti in May were smiling, despite having endured great loss. “At the heart, they are still kids. They like to be hugged, they like to be held, they like to kick a ball around,” he said. “In many ways, these kids are happy kids.” Photo by Phil Roughton. Photo #10-1458. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1178, 06/03/10. Madame Paul gives a medicine-sized cup portion of strawberry soda to some of the 97 children she and three other women care for in a house Paul rents. It is one of several orphanages a group of Florida Conference leaders visited during a trip to Haiti in May that hopes to become part of the Global Orphan Project network, which helps build communities that sustain orphans around the world. Photo by Vee Stepelton. Photo #10-1457. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1178, 06/03/10. Churches like this one in Haiti will be rebuilt in part with funds from the Florida Conference. Leaders from the Florida Conference gave the United Methodist Church of Haiti a $125,000 contribution during a visit to the Caribbean nation in May. The money will help pay pastors’ salaries and cover the cost of supplies needed to rebuild many churches that were damaged or destroyed during the Jan. 12 earthquake. Photo by Bill Harley. Photo #10-1456. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1178, 06/03/10. The Rev. Beth Fogle-Miller, director of Florida Conference Connectional Ministries, gets to know some of the children at an orphanage near Port-au-Prince during a trip to Haiti in May with other conference and church leaders. Photo by Phil Roughton. Photo #10-1455. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1178, 06/03/10. First United Methodist Church in Punta Gorda provided ice, food, water and hot meals to residents after Hurricane Charley hit the area in 2004. While crews worked to repair damage to the sanctuary and other church buildings caused by the storm, volunteers unloaded trucks of food and trunks filled with ice and distributed both to people in the community affected by the Category 4 hurricane. File photo by Michael Wacht. Photo #04-0080. Originally accompanied e-Review Florida UMNS #0149, 08/25/08. Also accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1177, 06/01/10. Trinity United Methodist Church in Arcadia was one of many buildings and homes damaged during Hurricane Charley in 2004. It was also a point of operations for relief to the area, with church members providing food and water to residents affected by the storm. Arcadia is 20 to 30 miles from Port Charlotte, where the hurricane made landfall. File photo by the Rev. Dr. Larry Rankin. Photo #04-0062. Originally accompanied e-Review Florida UMNS #0138, 08/14/08. Also accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1177, 06/01/10. A structural engineer consultant retained by the Florida Conference Ministry Protection department inspects the remains of Branches United Methodist Mission in Florida City after a fire ripped through the church’s main building and playground area May 23. Photo by Mark Thomas. Photo #10-1454. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1176, 05/28/10. Members worship by the bell tower at Branches United Methodist Mission in Florida City May 23 after a fire that destroyed the church’s main building just hours before. Photo by Megan McCarty. Photo #10-1453. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1176, 05/28/10. Structural engineers say the main church building at Branches United Methodist Mission is a total loss after an early morning fire May 23. The playground behind the church may only be a partial loss. Photo by Megan McCarty. Photo #10-1452. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1176, 05/28/10. A fire burns the main church building at Branches United Methodist Mission in Florida City during the early morning hours May 23. Photo by Megan McCarty. Photo #10-1451. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1176, 05/28/10. With the end of 30 years of civil war and the rebuilding of the country, hope is returning to Quéssua — the theological and spiritual center of the East Angola Conference of The United Methodist Church — and Angola. Photo by Barrie Wilke. Photo #10-1450. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1174, 05/24/10. A group of students from Santiago United Methodist Church in Luanda, Angola, takes pictures of their friends and members of a mission team from Harvest United Methodist Church in Bradenton. The students were visiting Quéssua — the theological and spiritual center of the East Angola Conference of The United Methodist Church and the base of operations for the mission team — for a retreat and hike to a cross topping a mountain that overlooks Quéssua and Malange. “They sang to welcome us, and then they took photos of us, ‘the missionaries from America,’ ” said Mike Kennedy, a member of the mission team. “It was wonderful and heartwarming, actually overwhelming.” The mission team visited in February and worked at Malange Central United Methodist Church, which has a relationship with the Florida church as part of the East Angola/Florida Partnership. Photo by Barrie Wilke. Photo #10-1449. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1174, 05/24/10. Shelby Price gets to know 5-year-old Gabi while working with other members of her church, Harvest United Methodist Church in Bradenton, at the Internato Feminina, a girls boarding school adjacent to Malange Central United Methodist Church in Angola. Gabi lives with his 15-year-old sister, Quinha, and 22 other girls at the boarding school. “His love for everyone and his huge smile are clearly evident to all,” said the Rev. Catherine Fluck-Price, Shelby’s mom and co-pastor of the Florida church. “We all fell in love with him.” The Prices were part of a mission team from the Florida church, which has a relationship with the Malange church as part of the East Angola/Florida Partnership. Photo by Barrie Wilke. Photo #10-1448. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1174, 05/24/10. Children at Malange Central United Methodist Church in Angola draw and color during a vacation Bible school led by members of Harvest United Methodist Church in Bradenton as part of a mission trip to Angola in February. The Rev. Catherine Fluck-Price, who serves as co-pastor of the Florida church, said many of the kids had never used crayons before then. The Florida church has a relationship with the east Angolan church as part of the East Angola/Florida Partnership. Photo by Barrie Wilke. Photo #10-1447. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1174, 05/24/10. Members of Harvest United Methodist Church in Bradenton caulk windows at a girls boarding school adjacent to Malange Central United Methodist Church in Angola. The Florida church, which has a relationship with the Angolan church as part of the East Angola/Florida Partnership, sent a mission team to the area in February. Photo by Barrie Wilke. Photo #10-1446. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1174, 05/24/10. Members of a mission team from Harvest United Methodist Church in Bradenton visiting Angola as part of the East Angola/Florida Partnership toured Quéssua — the theological and spiritual center of the East Angola Conference of The United Methodist Church — and saw firsthand the damage caused by three decades of civil war in the remains of what was a middle school, chapel, home for missionaries and other ruins. A number of structures have been rebuilt, however, including Quéssua United Methodist Church and the site’s theological school, through the partnership. The visiting team continued that work, painting and repairing a boys boarding house. Photo by Barrie Wilke. Photo #10-1445. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1174, 05/24/10. Adilson, a student at the boys boarding school at Quéssua, recuperates after being hospitalized for malaria under a mosquito net provided by members of a Florida Conference mission team visiting the Quéssua complex in January. Members of the team hope the new nets they gave Adilson and the other boys will help them stay healthy for the remainder of their time at the boarding school. Quéssua is the theological and spiritual center of the East Angola Conference of The United Methodist Church and the temporary home of the Rev. Dr. Armando and Icel Rodriguez, who have been serving as short-term missioners in East Angola since September as part of the East Angola/Florida Partnership. Photo by Rev. Dr. Armando Rodriguez Jr. Photo #10-1444. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1174, 05/24/10. The Rev. Dr. Armando and Icel Rodriguez (center)and students from the boys boarding school at Quéssua sit at the base of a cross that tops a mountain overlooking Quéssua and Malange. The crew hiked to the spot for worship and Bible study. The couple, along with their daughter Amanda, has been serving at Quéssua — the theological and spiritual center of the East Angola Conference of The United Methodist Church — as short-term missioners since September as part of the East Angola/Florida Partnership. They return to Florida in July. Armando is a Florida Conference elder, and Icel is director of the conference’s global mission ministry. Photo courtesy of the Rev. Dr. Armando Rodriguez Jr. Photo #10-1443. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1174, 05/24/10. In addition to helping clients complete their paperwork to apply for temporary protected status at a Florida Conference Justice For Our Neighbors immigration clinic in February at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Orlando, the Rev. Thomas Touissant (left) also translated much of the information on a seven-page immigration form for the group. The form is in English; the primary language spoken by many who attended is Creole. Touissant is pastor at Berea Haitian Mission in the Pine Hills area of Orlando. The clinic was held to help Haitians in Central Florida apply for the temporary status, which was granted by the U.S. government after the Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti. The status enables Haitians to remain in the country and work for at least 18 months without fear of being deported. Photo by Tita Parham. Photo #10-1442. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1172, 05/12/10. Mayuris Pimentel explains a question on the form to apply for temporary protected status to the Rev. Eliantus Valmyr, pastor of Emmanuel United Methodist Haitian Mission in Orlando, and a group of Haitians attending a Florida Conference Justice For Our Neighbors Immigration clinic in early February at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Orlando. Pimentel is supervising attorney for Justice For Our Neighbors. The clinic was held to help Haitians in Central Florida apply for the temporary status, which was granted by the U.S. government after the Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti. The status enables Haitians to remain in the country and work for at least 18 months without fear of being deported. Photo by Tita Parham. Photo #10-1441. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1172, 05/12/10. Sunny Wilmot (right) works with Catherine Bruno, 12, as she completes her application for temporary protected status at a Florida Conference Justice For Our Neighbors immigration clinic in February at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Orlando. Bruno’s 14-year-old brother Jeddy and mother applied for both the temporary status and authorization to work, which is given to people between the ages of 14 and 65. The clinic was held to help Haitians in Central Florida apply for the temporary status, which was granted by the U.S. government after the Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti. The status enables Haitians to remain in the country and work for at least 18 months without fear of being deported. Photo by Tita Parham. Photo #10-1440. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1172, 05/12/10. Although, she’s an attorney, Scharome Deaton (left) says understanding the paperwork and process of helping Haitian nationals, like Fezane Bruno (right), gain temporary protected status is difficult. Deaton was a volunteer at a Florida Conference Justice For Our Neighbors immigration clinic in February at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Orlando. The clinic was held to help Haitians in Central Florida apply for the temporary status, which was granted by the U.S. government after the Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti. The status enables Haitians to remain in the country and work for at least 18 months without fear of being deported. Photo by Tita Parham. Photo #10-1439. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1172, 05/12/10. Michael Mills (left) helps a client complete his application for temporary protected status at a Florida Conference Justice For Our Neighbors immigration clinic in February at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Orlando. Mills is a member of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Eatonville and a local attorney. The clinic was held to help Haitians in Central Florida apply for the temporary status, which was granted by the U.S. government after the Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti. The status enables Haitians to remain in the country and work for at least 18 months without fear of being deported. Photo by Tita Parham. Photo #10-1438. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1172, 05/12/10. A Haitian congregant of St. Martin Methodist Church in Port-au-Prince prays during an outdoor worship service. A UMNS photo by Mike DuBose. Photo #10-1394. Originally accompanied e-Review Florida UMNS #1135, 02/03/10. Also accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1171, 05/11/10. Signs requesting help were a common sight in damaged areas of Port-au-Prince after the earthquake. A UMNS photo by Mike Dubose. Photo #10-1392. Originally accompanied e-Review Florida UMNS #1135, 02/03/10. Also accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1171, 05/11/10. While visiting Carrenage, Haiti, in October 2008, team members from First United Methodist Church in Homosassa Springs were able to spend time getting to know area schoolchildren. File photo courtesy of Patience Nave. Photo #09-1082. Originally accompanied e-Review Florida UMNS #0961, 1/12/09. Also accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1171, 05/11/10. A crucifix stands amid the rubble of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. A UMNS photo by Mike DuBose. Photo #10-1437. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1171, 05/11/10. The Rev. Lyndol Loyd, co-leads The Methodist Way class on intentional discipling before the 2008 Florida Annual Conference Event. He stressed that churches can no longer assume the people they are trying to reach have any level of biblical knowledge. File photo by Greg Moore. Photo #08-0860. Originally accompanied e-Review Florida UMNS #0859, 05/29/08. Also accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1169, 05/05/10. The Rev. Harold Lewis talks with attendees about the importance of churches developing a vision all members can learn and embrace during a workshop titled “Do You See What I See?” Lewis is the director of Florida Conference Black Congregational Development. His workshop was one of eight offered before the 2009 Florida Annual Conference Event. File photo by Caryl Kelley. Photo #09-1200. Originally accompanied e-Review Florida UMNS #1030, 06/11/09. Also accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1169, 05/05/10. The current Florida Conference Center in Lakeland was built in 1969. File photo by Caryl Kelley. Photo #08-1056. Originally accompanied e-Review Florida UMNS #0937, 11/05/08. Also accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1168, 05/04/10. The new Florida United Methodist Conference Center, still under construction, is located at 450 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue across from Lake Wire in downtown Lakeland. The expected move-in date is June 16. Photo by Frank North. Photo #10-1436. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1168, 05/04/10. Bishop Gregory Palmer (right), chairperson of the Call To Action Committee, shares thoughts with consultants Mark Harrison and Frederick Miller during the group’s April 6-8 meeting in Nashville, Tenn. The 12-member committee is a successor to an earlier group appointed by the Council of Bishops to reorder the life of The United Methodist Church for greater effectiveness and vitality in “making disciples for Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world” and addressing the Four Areas of Focus endorsed by the 2008 General Conference. A UMNS photo by Rich Peck. Photo #10-1435. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1167, 04/28/10. The Rev. Larry Hollon (center), top staff executive of United Methodist Communications, tells the Call to Action Committee that 85 percent of non-Christians view Christianity as a hypocritical faith, as do 52 percent of those within the faith. Speaking at the committee’s April 6-8 meeting in Nashville, Tenn., he also said the Pew Forum found that 83 percent of youngsters keep their cell phones next to their beds. “We are in a post-Web page era,” he said, noting that Web sites are being supplanted by social media and text messaging. A UMNS photo by Rich Peck. Photo #10-1434. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1167, 04/28/10. Africa University offers graduate and undergraduate degrees in six areas — agriculture and natural resources, education, humanities and social sciences, health sciences, management and administration, and theology. It also offers an information technology training center and a certificate program in medical laboratory technology. Its Institute of Peace, Leadership and Governance offers postgraduate diplomas and master’s programs. Representatives of Africa University visited 17 United Methodist churches in three North Florida districts in March to thank Florida United Methodists for their support and raise money toward a $20 million goal. Photo courtesy of Africa University. Photo #10-1433. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1166, 04/27/10. When Africa University opened in 1992, 44 students studied in renovated farm buildings on the current 1,500-care site in Old Mutare, Zimbabwe. Since then, more than 3,000 students have graduated from the university in its 18-year history. Representatives of Africa University visited 17 United Methodist churches in three North Florida districts in March to thank Florida United Methodists for their support and raise money toward a $20 million goal. Photo courtesy of Africa University. Photo #10-1432. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1166, 04/27/10. Africa University’s choir received first place for the 2006 National Arts Merit Award, given annually by the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe in recognition of outstanding achievements in the performing arts. The choir’s main function is to sing in weekly chapel services, leading the congregation in worship, but it also performs throughout the country and has annually toured the United States. Representatives of Africa University visited 17 United Methodist churches in three North Florida districts in March to thank Florida United Methodists for their support and raise money toward a $20 million goal. Photo by Don Wood. Photo #10-1431. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1166, 04/27/10. Africa University’s Kwang Lim Chapel is one of the first buildings students and visitors see as they make their way up the university’s long drive to the 1,500-acre campus in Old Mutare, Zimbabwe. The chapel was built in 1996 with funding from Kwang Lim Methodist Church in Seoul, Korea, and reflects both Korean and African art. Representatives of Africa University visited 17 United Methodist churches in three North Florida districts in March to thank Florida United Methodists for their support and raise money toward a $20 million goal. Photo courtesy of Africa University. Photo #10-1430. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1166, 04/27/10. What’s an education at Africa University worth? Elaine Jenkins (left) and the Rev. Yollande Samba Mavund can explain it, but from different perspectives. Jenkins is director of planned giving for the university, and Mavund is a graduate. Both women shared aspects of Africa University’s mission and story with members and guests at Stewart Memorial United Methodist Church in Daytona Beach March 21. Their visit was one of 17 representatives of the university made to North Florida churches to thank United Methodists for their past support and raise awareness about the university’s future needs. Photo by Kitty Carpenter. Photo #10-1429. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1166, 04/27/10. Workers harvest tomatoes at a farm in Immokalee, Fla., where low wages and poor conditions prompted farm worker advocates to lobby fast-food giant Burger King Corp. An agreement in 2008 between Burger King and farm workers increased wages and protection to workers subjected to abuse from growers. A UMNS file photo by Scott Robertson. Photo #08-0893. Originally accompanied e-Review Florida UMNS #0867, 06/12/08. Also accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1165, 04/23/10. Kelly Varsames, a member of Hyde Park United Methodist Church in Tampa, gives her e-mail address to Coalition of Immokalee Workers and Interfaith Action of Southwest Florida after viewing the Modern-Day Slavery Museum, a traveling museum depicting the harsh realities migrant farm workers face. “I like to be able to help organizations by signing online petitions,” she said. The museum is a joint effort between the Coalition and Interfaith Action. It kicked off its tour Feb. 28 at Grace United Methodist Church in Cape Coral and stopped at the Tampa church April 11. Photo by J.A. Buchholz. Photo #10-1428. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1165, 04/23/10. Sean Sellers, a Kellogg Food and Society Fellow, takes members of Hyde Park United Methodist Church in Tampa through the Modern-Day Slavery Museum. The traveling museum is a joint effort between the Coalition of Immokalee Workers and Interfaith Action of Southwest Florida that depicts the harsh realities and living conditions migrant farm workers face. The museum kicked off its tour Feb. 28 at Grace United Methodist Church in Cape Coral and stopped at the Tampa church April 11. The box truck housing the museum is similar to one in which workers were held captive; they were released from it only to pick tomatoes. Photo by J.A. Buchholz. Photo #10-1427. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1165, 04/23/10. Wilson Perez hoists a typical 32-pound bucket of tomatoes at Hyde Park United Methodist Church in Tampa April 11. Perez works 10-12 hours a day picking tomatoes. In 1978 workers earned just 40 cents per bucket. Today, the rate is 72 cents. Perez traveled throughout Florida Feb. 28-April 18 with the Modern-Day Slavery Museum to bring attention to the plight of migrant farm workers. The museum is a joint effort between the Coalition of Immokalee Workers and Interfaith Action of Southwest Florida that depicts the harsh realities and living conditions migrant farm workers face. Photo by J.A. Buchholz. Photo #10-1426. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1165, 04/23/10. Visitors tour the Modern-Day Slavery Museum Feb. 28 at Grace United Methodist Church in Cape Coral. The traveling museum is a joint effort between the Coalition of Immokalee Workers and Interfaith Action of Southwest Florida that depicts the harsh realities and living conditions migrant farm workers face. The tour culminated April 18 with a march that took workers and advocates through Tampa, Plant City and their final stop in Lakeland. Photo by Brigitte Gynther. Photo #10-1425. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1165, 04/23/10. At a multi-lingual Lay Speaking Ministries training event, participants see how drama, music, personal witness and symbolic acts can communicate the gospel. Jenny Andrews, a member of First United Methodist Church in Madison, recalls how Mary anointed Jesus’ feet with perfume. File photo by Michael Wacht. Originally accompanied “Florida holds first multi-language Lay Speaking event,” 04/13/01, Florida United Methodist Review. Also accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1164, 04/22/10. A woman picks up one of more than 200 pairs of shoes that were given to homeless individuals and families at Hope Central in Fort Lauderdale during a weekend event sponsored by Christ Church United Methodist. The church canceled its worship services so members could instead participate in salty service projects. The ministry and church work together to offer worship, food, a day care and other services for the area’s homeless population. File photo by Erik J. Alsgaard. Photo #09-1240. Originally accompanied e-Review Florida UMNS #1042, 07/08/09. Also accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1161, 04/07/10. Dr. Laurel Kearns says the world is not like a globe, with countries defined by lines and colors. As a result, any harm done environmentally in one area affects the areas around it and well beyond. Kearns is associate professor of Sociology of Religion and Environmental Studies at Drew Theological School in Madison, N.J. The Florida native was the keynote speaker during the opening session of the 2009 Florida Annual Conference Event at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach. File photo by Greg Moore. Photo #09-1207. Originally accompanied e-Review Florida UMNS #1033, 06/13/09. Also accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1161, 04/07/10.   In his office at the episcopal building in Lakeland, Florida Conference Bishop Timothy Whitaker says he is hopeful the theme of the 2010 Florida Annual Conference Event — “Transforming the World by Eradicating Extreme Poverty” — will encourage churches to look intentionally at how their ministries are alleviating or eliminating poverty and embrace that “as part of Christ’s call to the church and to the world.” Photo by Derek Maul. Photo #10-1424. Accompanies e-Review Florida UMNS #1161, 04/07/10.