Jesus’ words in the Great Commission (Mt 28:19) “…Go and make disciples of all nations…” have inspired many to give up the comforts of home and go out into the world as missionaries, carrying the Gospel to all nations. Not everyone is called to go, but everyone has the opportunity to pray for and support financially those who do.  Our Mission Team actively does this with several Mission Projects overseas and locally.

HOOI (Homeless & Orphans Outreach, Inc.) currently provides the spiritual, physical, emotional, nutritional and educational needs of about 40 boys and 10 girls, in 2 orphanages, located on two different properties in San Cristobal, Dominican Republic.  Each compound includes a Church and a School that serves the neighborhoods in which they are located.  The schools, on double sessions, have 1300 children enrolled.  HOOI is allowed to provide bibles to the students, encourage scripture memorization and the teachers’ model Christian behavior to the children. The love of the Lord is truly seen in the enthusiastic worship and amazing leadership training of these precious children.
Link: http://www.hooikids.com/Home/about

Zambia, Africa is the location of the New Life International Mission/Education of African Pastor’s Children, a United Methodist Mission founded by Delbert and Sandy Groves, originally from Casselberry, FL.  Their wide ranging ministries include health; medical; education of children, youth, adults and pastors; retreats; the Holy Spirit Conference; church planning and building;  teaching sewing and banner making; and the amazing PET Ministry.  A PET is a Personal Energy Transportation vehicle.  It is “the Gift of Mobility”, allowing men, women and children affected by polio, land-mine accidents, birth defects or other injuries rendering their legs useless, to get around without depending on others to carry or push them.

WYCLIFFE is a mission organization, whose goal is to get the Word of God into the hands of every one of Gods people.  Amazingly, there are still about 180 million people in the world who do not have any Scripture in their language.  Pat & Melinda Edmiston are Wycliffe Missionaries.  From 1982-2005, they raised their children on a remote mission field in Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, living with and gaining the love and trust of the Alambak people, who had no written language!  After creating an alphabet, and teaching the people to read what they heard and spoke, they were able to begin translating Scripture into the heart language of the Alambak people.  We can only imagine the impact this has had on these precious people!  Currently, Mel and Pat are working on translations in Nigeria. Link: https://www.wycliffe.org/partner/DB13BB

FOOD FOR CHRISTMAS

For twenty years and counting, Renee and Doreen Malbog have provided food for Christmas to Rene Malbog’s hometown in the Philippines. Through the combined effort of Rene’s family, by supplying boots on the ground expertise and sweat equity (think August in South Florida), they have been blessed to distribute food every Christmas Day along with a worship service for needy families. FMCC began partnering with this outreach mission in 2022.

We initially started with fifty families which grew to seventy-five and now stands at one hundred families every year. Our current budget is $1,200 per year. Rene’s family provides all the logistics, including negotiating the best prices for local goods. All of this is a labor of love and his family receives no benefit, funds or payment from this ministry.

Each family receives ….

14 pounds of rice; 3 cans of sardines; 3 cans of corn beef meatloaf; 5 packages of rice noodles; 5 Ramen noodles; 2 packages of powdered milk; 1 ketchup; 2 soy sauce/vinegar; 1 salted fish sauce; 1 can of Milo Chocolate drink mix; 1 bag of coffee; 1 pound of sugar;1 liter of pineapple drink; 1 package of bath soap; 1 bar of laundry soap; and 1 tube of toothpaste.

Cuba Sister Church 

In 2021, our Mission Team entered into a “Sister Church Relationship” 

with the Pina Resurrection Methodist Church in the Ciego de Avila District in Cuba.  The Sister Church program is coordinated by Dan Christopherson who has a heart for bringing assistance to Methodist Churches in rural Cuba.  He has spent much time in Cuba, and has experience on determining how best to offer assistance.  These churches often meet in very humble buildings, and some even meet under trees! 

Support for these churches includes: 

Building & Repairing Churches; Water Purification Systems; Food Programs; Bibles for Pastors & Congregations; Salary for Pastors; Laptop Computers for Pastors; Funds to Transport Supplies; Bicycles for Pastors; Construction of Christian Day Cares 

The Mission Team of First Methodist Church of Clewiston is very pleased to support the Pina Resurrection Methodist Church of the Ciego de Avila District of Cuba. 

Link: http://www.christforcuba.com 

Florida Methodist Children’s Home

The Florida Methodist Children’s Home was established in Enterprise, Florida in 1908 as the Florida Methodist Orphanage. Their mission is to “Empower children and families to experience the transforming love of Christ through evidence-based care and holistic services”. Their vision is “Children and families healed and restored through the love of God”. Our church has supported this safe haven for children for decades. We will continue to support them through the 5^th Sunday special offering and the annual pecan sales (November-December). Contact Shelley Davidson at 863-599-9070 for Children’s home information and Alan Hammock at 863-677-0075 to order pecans. https://www.fumch.org

Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Ministry

Operation Christmas Child’s mission is to provide local partners around the world with shoeboxes filled with small toys, hygiene items, and school supplies as a means of reaching out to children in their own communities with the Good News of Jesus. These shoeboxes are shipped outside the U.S. to children affected by war, poverty, natural disaster, famine and disease; and to children living on Native American reservations in the U.S. These shoebox gifts demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world. FMCC’s partnership with  Operation Christmas Child’s shoebox provides a powerful tool for sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. FMCC has already ordered the boxes and will soon have a list in the sanctuary of items that are needed to fill the shoeboxes. We also need donations to cover the shipping of each box ($10.00 per box). Donations should be marked Shoebox Ministry. Our goal is 116 boxes this year. We are packing the boxes on November 12, 2023. Please contact Janet Way at 863-677-1002 or Ninette Aker 305-510-5625 if you need more information. https://www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/

St. Matthews House has been one of our local Mission Projects since the 1960’s.  Nuns began this work, though it has long been run by an executive director and a board, who meet the needs of people on the streets by providing a safe, clean place to stay with 3 meals a day, clothing, showers, laundry services;  referrals to jobs, housing, schools, daycare, clinics, hospitals, other services and case management.  Daniel Washington, executive director, is a strong yet compassionate leader for the Immokalee Friendship House and its clients. Link: http://stmatthewshouse.org/programs/immokalee-friendship-house/

Cross-Training Ministries, located west of Clewiston, was founded by local Christians who saw a need to offer Jesus to young men with abuse and addiction problems.  Their letterhead explains their mission:  “Christian Drug and Alcohol Regeneration – Training Young Men to be Disciples of Christ.”   These men must be chosen for the program and fit into a very strict and disciplined schedule, learning first about the Lord and then their relationship with Him, and finally their relationship with others, including seeking healing and forgiveness from the often broken family relationships they came from. The success of this program is truly because of God’s hand in it.  The men are also taught good work ethics, and fund much of the program by their lawn service business.  Consider having them do your mowing…they are a delight to have in your yard! Link: http://www.ctmflorida.com/

Agape Home

The Agape Home is a twelve-month program for women who are ready to confront their life-controlling addictions. These women did not choose the state of hopelessness they are in; most of them are products of physical, emotional, and/or sexual abuse as children. We know that Jesus weep for these women and that He is their only hope for healing and restoration. The Agape Home’s mission is to welcome any ready woman in need. We do not turn anyone away due to a lack of finances. Therefore, the income from our thrift shops located in Moore Haven and Clewiston help to provide for the women during their stay. Please donate your items to our thrift stores. We can be reached at 863-805-8720 www.agapehome.org

Palm Terrace of Clewiston

Palm Terrace is a short and long-term rehabilitation and skilled nursing facility in Clewiston. We support the residents with various needs through the year, i.e., personal hygiene items, monthly birthday cakes, Christmas gift, Easter messages and other needs as they arise.