Florida United Methodist Review Online

Deficit less than expected, continues into 2000
Despite its problems with cash flow, the Florida Conference is "unusually financially healthy," according to Dr. Randy Casey-Rutland, interim conference treasurer. While the conference's budget deficit increased by more than $200,000 in 1999, the conference's total assets increased by $6.8 million in value.
The deficit problem is, however, continuing into 2000, Casey-Rutland says. The conference has been receiving less in contributions from local churches in 2000 than in 1999 through April.
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Cubans Share Their Praise

Photo By Michael Wacht

      The Monte de Sión Praise Band from Havana, Cuba, has been touring the Florida Conference since May 18, performing original praise songs in 15 United Methodist churches and at the Dare to Share Jesus 2000 Florida Annual Conference Event June 1.
      Band director Israel Ortet Sardiñas said the trip has been a blessing for band members, who range in age from 17 to 27 years old. “For us to be here is a miracle, it’s heaven,” he said.
      Look for a complete story on the band’s tour in the June 23 issue of the “Review.”

Inner-city ministry receives grant
Last month, the Florida Conference received a $665,000 grant from the denomination's General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM) to fund a model for ministry to unchurched people for three years in the Miami District. The next step, according to Miami District Superintendent Clarke Campbell-Evans, is to identify a lay or clergy person called to lead the ministry effort.
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Church commits long-term to building houses

"If someone had sat down in my office and told me we would raise all the funds and send teams to build a house in three weeks, I would have said, 'There's no way we could do that,' " said the Rev. David Fuller, pastor of the church. "But it happened, and we're hoping to continue to make it happen every other year."
Fuller's church, St. Andrew's United Methodist Church in Brandon, recently raised $19,000 and sent three teams to Frakes, Ky., to build a house for a single mother and her daughter. Full Story

Church makes relationship official

For at least 22 years, Saint Paul's UMC in Tallahassee has been in mission to people in Mexico, Haiti, St. Vincent, the Red Bird Missionary Conference and Cuba through the Southeastern Jurisdiction United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM). Now, the church is making its connection with UMVIM official by forming a Covenant Relationship. Full Story

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