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BY LISA JACKINSKY I am a Free Methodist. But I only realized that recently. When I was young, my mother told me stories of her Free Methodist upbringing – her father’s commanding presence as First Free Methodist’s enduring song leader before instruments and choirs were used; the annual summer camp meeting, where congregants gathered for [...]

BY DR. RON HAMPTON Founder, Takin’ it to the Streets, Inc. On April 20, 2013, Saint Anthony’s Church of Passaic, N.J. was the scene where Takin’ it to the Streets, Inc., a Free Methodist non-profit organization from Washington, D.C. partnered with other churches and organizations to provide relief for victimes of super-storm Sandy. The founder [...]

By JR RUSHIK Pastor, Storehouse Church Since its foundation in 2001, Storehouse Church has rented space to hold its Sunday service, small group gatherings, band rehearsals and other functions. In fact, meeting in a rented facility was part of the overall stewardship plan. Pastor JR Rushik has always believed that the people are the church [...]

BY CAROLYN VIAN Associate Pastor, Cooks Hill Community Church, Centralia, Washington Several years ago, our associate pastor, Roger Keller, implemented a special ministry at Cooks Hill Community Church (Centralia, Wash.). He realized that the church’s proximity to a retirement community and the large number of senior citizens in the church would greatly benefit from a volunteer chaplain [...]

BY MICHAEL J. JASINSKI Emmanuel FMC, Janesville, Wis. I moved to Janesville, Wis., in early summer of 2012 as a member of Wesley FMC in Waukegan, Ill. Though I have many friends in Waukegan, I knew that God wanted me here in Janesville, and I was praying for confirmation of how to serve Him. Soon [...]

BY PASTOR RON HAMPTON Takin’ it to the Streets, Inc. Takin it to the Streets, Inc., a community outreach ministry with offices in Washington, D.C. and Shreveport La., is coordinating a relief effort to provide donated food and clothing to assist the families in the Passaic, N.J. area that were affected by super storm “Sandy” [...]

By Chuck Husted of Spring Arbor Free Methodist Church I have never been on an overseas missions trip, but I have heard people share how it has changed their perspective and their life. My service as a pastor has presented me with many opportunities to interact with people of another ethnic group or culture, but [...]

by a volunteer at Hands of Hope Food Bank at Everett Lifepoint FMC I never fully understood how a food bank helps individuals in our world today. I never walked in the doors of a food bank till August 2006 when I went with my boyfriend. I witnessed the most wonderful sight I had ever [...]

BY CAROL KOERNER Conference Historian, East Michigan Conference Storyteller Susan Mulholland (Davison FMC) shared stories with an absorbed audience of children (as well as tag-along adults) during Family Camp at Covenant Hills. Some of the stories Susan told were from the “Grandma’s Attic” series by Arleta Richardson and based on the life of Arleta’s grandmother, [...]

BY ROBIN THOMPSON Wheeler Free Methodist Church The Shining Light Visa Team went to Nicaragua from December 28, 2011, to January 4, 2012. The church at Rene Palonco, where the late Pastor Luis was, is without a pastor at this time. One was appointed, but has since left. Pastor Luis’s wife, Jenny, is still operating [...]

BY PASTOR STEPHEN REYNER With hurricane woes all around us, not to mention eight days of no electricity in the church and parsonage, it is so good to see the lights on and feel heat greet you when you open the door. Normalcy is back. We cooked in the fireplace. I teased neighbors and friends [...]

BY RON HAMPTON Takin’ It to the Streets Inc. of Washington, D.C., is coordinating a relief effort called Operation Rescue to provide donated food and clothing to the families in New Jersey that were affected by Superstorm Sandy on Oct. 28 and 29. Operation Rescue is in partnership with Higher Cause Productions of Alexandria, Va.; [...]

BY DR. JOSEPH DÉVARÉNE There have been seven years of God’s work at Bois-Verna, Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Many lives have been transformed. We are going to celebrate our seven years of ministry on August 20, 2012. We would appreciate your prayer for the development of this church plant. God bless you!

BY SHAWN MORRISON Cedarcrest Free Methodist Church Cedarcrest Church in Bloomington, Minn., recently received some local attention on KSTP Channel 5 news for our Food in the Hood program that provides approximately two weeks’ worth of groceries to more than 1,500 people each month in partnership with Good in the ‘Hood and Union Gospel Mission. [...]

BY TIM WARD Pennsylvania Avenue Free Methodist Church, Ottumwa Iowa No, that’s not the title of a new horror movie; it is ministry in action! It is how the body of Christ, the followers of Jesus, responds to a community’s need. It also is evidence of the fact that worship is not about music or [...]

BY MICHELLE WADE I recently designed a t-shirt for our church’s outings and I posted the finished graphic on Facebook where I could share it with church members. Here’s the illustration: A friend asked: “Is it?” Here’s my response: Is it what David? All the things I said above? Not to brag, but I think [...]