Missions
"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:32
Mission is at the heart of De Witt First United Methodist Church. The mission committee participates in spreading the love of Christ by meeting the needs of people. The committee makes attempts to strike a balance between local and international activities since the world is our parish. We try to respond to ideas presented to us by the congregation, both formally and informally through conversations with church members. Everyone is encouraged to participate in some way. The committee honors gifts of money, physical goods and time. If you would like to make a contribution, please call 870-946-2328.
Annual Fund Raiser
The mission committee sponsors a baked potato and salad lunch as their fund raiser. This money finances the committee's projects thru the year.
Mission Trips to Costa Rica
Since 2006, a group of our church members have been going to Alajuela, Costa Rica to help build a Methodist church. Our church provides money for building supplies. We also provide supplies for the Bible School which our members helped with. They have also provided health kits for each kid.
Dana's House
Our local mission has been Dana's House. It is a temporary home for children, ages infant thru 17 year old. These children have been removed from their homes by the courts. Our members have helped with maintenance and repairs of the facility and have volunteered working in the thrift shop.
Camp Aldersgate
Our church takes part in the annual "Clean Up-Fix Up" at Camp Aldersgate. Camp Aldersgate offers camps for children and youth who have conditions such as cancer, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, diabetes, arthritis, asthma, epilepsy, kidney disorders, autism, Down's syndrome, and mental retardation.
Apple Tree
The mission committee sponsors an "Apple Tree" for school supplies for children of local families.
Angle Tree
The mission committee sponsors an "Angle Tree" each Christmas for local children who have been removed from their homes by the courts.
Food Baskets
The mission committee puts together food baskets to be given out at Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Ministerial Alliance
FUMC is part of an alliance of local churches that provide assistance for those in need in DeWitt.
Madres y Ninos Outreach Group
In the summer of 2007, our committee provided English lessons to several local Mexican ladies and provided bible stories for their children. We provided hand work for them and refreshments and after six weeks, we took them to Little Rock to eat out and to shop at a Mexican Super Market.
Harvest of Hope
Since 1999, Harvest of Hope has been serving up helpings of barbecued pork and chicken. Proceeds are used to purchase rice to donate to the Arkansas Rice Depot, which will use it to help feed the hungry. The Arkansas Rice Depot reaches out to those Arkansans in need through a variety of programs including Food For Kids, Food For Seniors & Disaster Relief. Many members of our church have participated in this mission project.
Ingathering
Our committee puts together flood buckets for the Ingathering.
Other
The mission committee has also helped victims of fire, storm, and sickness. We also helped with the expenses of one of our college students who spent five weeks in India on a mission trip.
Foster Children Ministry
This ministry is to let the children know that someone cares for them and is praying for them. Church members remember these children on holidays and their birthdays.
Guatemala Medical Mission Trip
Over the past six years, volunteer teams from Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church have traveled in mission to Guatemala to assist with the medical and health needs, as well as construction projects, in rural Quetzeltenango and Salud Y Paz. This years Guatemala Mission Trip was scheduled for May 23 - May 31, 2009. Linda Martineau and Jean Prange of De Witt First United Methodist Church joined the Pulaski Heights Mission Team on this trip.
A medical team and a surgical team were a part of the mission trip. Linda and Jean were a part of the surgical team and worked at the main clinic in Camanchaj. The medical team went into rural communities to provide services to Mayan people who have very limited access to medical care. The expenses for medicine, surgical supplies, equipment and other items were purchased with contributions.
The Mission Committee would like to thank everyone for the success of the bake sale on May 9th. With the sale of cakes and other goodies and donations, around $1,300.00 was made for the medical mission trip.
Jean and Linda tell the congregation about their mission trip.
What is SERRV? If you have never heard of it, you will have a chance to find out first hand. SERRV is a nonprofit organization with 60 years of experience dedicated to eradicating poverty through trade with a developmental impact. Buying from SERRV's artisans and farmers brings about a real change for the better.
This opportunity is presented by the Mission Committee and the proceeds from the sale will go to Missions to help fund their local projects.
Caring and Sharing Pantry
"For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you made me welcome...." (Matthew25:35-36)
Loma Essex Ministry
The Morning Circle of the UMW began a "Loma Essex Ministry" to support our college students for which Loma had a great concern. It was Loma's wish to keep in touch with these students from our church. Please inform us of any change in your student's mailing address or if you have a freshman student to add to the list by calling the church office at 870-946-2328 or emailing the church at fumcdewitt@centurytel.net.
We ask for your prayers that this ministry will be the blessing we intend and we thank you for your support.
The UMW
Tyler Wayman
On Sunday, April 10, the Mission Committee and the April Activity Committee hosted a chicken spaghetti lunch. Donations were taken to help Tyler Wayman with his mission trip to Guatemala this summer. Tyler is going with a group of Christian athletes from the University of Arkansas.
Mission Committee and members of U of A Christian Athletes
