Tanzania UMC Partnership
Tanzania Information Sessions
The Alabama-West Florida Conference is now in partnership with the Mwanza District of the UMC in Tanzania. There are many different ways you and your church can be involved. Come to one of our upcoming information sessions to learn more. All sessions will begin at 3 p.m.
Click here to register to attend any of these sessions:
August 4: Demopolis First UMC
August 11: Dothan First UMC
August 25: Auburn UMC
September 8: Pensacola First UMC
September 22: Prattville First UMC
October 6: St. Mark UMC, Mobile
October 13: Spanish Fort UMC
November 10: Lynn Haven UMC
Learn more about the partnership here.
Children Support Tanzania at their VBS This Summer
Click the video below to learn about how many children in our conference are helping to build a church in Tanzania, and how your church can participate, too.
Thank you letter from missionary Eric Soard
May God’s grace find you well. I just wanted to say a huge thank you for the warm welcome, the many interested and supportive of the United Methodist Church’s work in Tanzania, and the many ways that the Alabama-West Florida Conference continues to support the ministry here. It is a true partnership, which I look forward to watching grow. Thank you for the Annual Conference offering which will go to support Wesley College and the future leaders of Tanzania. Please accept this thanks from myself and the students at Wesley College and if you have a chance sign-up for our monthly newsletter to get updates as the college progresses.
Blessings,
Rev. Eric Soard, missionary in Tanzania
Click on the image below to watch a short video from Eric and students at Wesley College thanking the Alabama-West Florida Conference.
Disaster Response
Volunteer Opportunities
There are many opportunities for volunteers (individuals and teams) to participate in our response efforts for the most recent disasters in the Alabama-West Florida Conference.
Hurricane Michael
Our response to Hurricane Michael will continue for many more months and years. Individuals and teams can contact Deion Cossio at deion@hurricanemichaelrecovery.org to volunteer.
Youth teams can register with Alabama Rural Ministry here.
Lee County Tornadoes
Response efforts are ongoing in Lee County. See how you can help by clicking here or here.
Connecting Neighbors
Are you prepared for the next disaster? Come to one of the upcoming Connecting Neighbors workshops and put together a disaster response plan. Be prepared before the disaster strikes, and then be more effective in your outreach to your community after the disaster. Click here to register to attend any of these workshops:
July 27 - Saraland UMC
August 10 - Providence UMC, Spanish Fort
August 24 - Millbrook First UMC
September 7 - Navarre UMC
September 28 - Demopolis First UMC
October 12 - Forest Park UMC, Panama City
October 19 - Alabama Rural Ministry Center at Tuskegee First UMC
November 9 - Daleville UMC
Know your District Disaster Response Coordinator
Watch the following videos on what steps your church and district leadership should take in the event of a disaster in your area. Please click on your district’s link.
Baypines District
Demopolis District
Dothan District
Marianna-Panama City District
Mobile District
Montgomery-Opelika District
Montgomery-Prattville District
Pensacola District
SEJ Renfro Grant
In the 1950's, Judge William E Renfro established a Trust in memory of his beloved wife to assist with the establishment of new churches, particularly within rural areas. Judge Renfro was an active and faithful Methodist and wanted to express his love for his wife and the Church. Because of his generosity, many churches throughout the Southeastern Jurisdiction over the decades have been recipients of the annual Renfro Grant award. The grant process has since been expanded to assist already-established rural churches with building renovations and improvements.
Churches in population areas under 10,000 are eligible to apply. "Situations described as unusual and challenging and for which insufficient funds are available from other sources shall be considered eligible for grants." The maximum amount for each grant is $5,000.
This is a competitive grant; applications must be on time and complete, including signatures, in order to be considered. Any church in Alabama-West Florida wishing to apply will submit their application to Susan Hunt at the Conference office by August 16, but you will want to get it to your district office sooner than that for the required DS signature.
Click here for the current guidelines.
Click here for an application to print and complete by hand.
Click here for an application to complete using a computer
Contact Susan at susan@awfumc.org or 334-356-8014 for additional information.
Conference Advance Specials
The AWF Conference Advance is an opportunity to support mission and ministry projects in the bounds of the conference through your financial contributions and your service. Modeled after the General Advance, the Conference Advance program, it is an accountable, designated arm of the conference ensuring that 100% of each gift is used for its intended mission or ministry.
Read more at www.awfumc.org/advance, or click here for the latest brochure.
New Advance Ministry added in 2019
A new Conference Advance ministry was added in 2019. Mobility Worldwide is a project of Epworth UMC in Phenix City, AL. They have a team of volunteers that lovingly assemble special carts in a workshop on the church campus. The carts are shipped and distributed by NGOs and Christian missionaries around the world to people who have mobility issues. The carts allow the users to become independent and their lives improve dramatically.
Sam Singer, member of Epworth UMC and volunteer with Mobility Worldwide, reflects on the ministry, "Many of our Mobility Cart recipients are believing Christians. For them, their Cart is an answer to prayer. For those who are not believers, my prayer is that through the work of the Spirit, they will see and respond to an act of love given freely for them by followers of Christ living in the United States.
To make a contribution to any Advance ministry, including Mobility Worldwide, click here.
Mission Camp July 22-26
It's not too late for senior high youth to register attend Mission Camp at Blue Lake, July 22-26. Mission Camp is a mix of fun, hands-on service, discipleship, and learning. Price is $290. Contact Pam Barnhardt at pbarnyard@yahoo.com with any questions. Click here for the information and registration page on the Blue Lake Camp website.
Opportunities
Society of St. Andrew
Society of St. Andrew coordinates volunteers who glean food from farmers and distributes that food to local feeding agencies. SoSA is looking for volunteers with pick up trucks or box trucks to help haul food from fields to feeding agencies. If you can help, contact Adrienne at alglean@endhunger.org.