Hyde Park United Methodist directly supports a number of educational institutions and other mission projects throughout the world:

Aksakovo Methodist Congregation near Varna, Bulgaria, and the World Methodist Council  The Aksakovo church is our “connecting congregation” in Bulgaria, while the World Methodist Council is a cooperative body that involves United Methodist Churches in 130 countries around the world.

For more information or to get involved contact Dan Anderson, church liaison, email or phone 813.839.8652. The agency’s liaison, Pastor Stoyan Stalev, can be reached by email. More information is available at the World Methodist Council website.

Click here for the latest message from Pastor Stoyan Stalev.

The largest United Methodist seminary in Europe, the Baltic Methodist Theological Seminary currently serves 132 students from seven countries who study in three languages: Estonian, Russian and English.

Seminary students receive internationally accredited, university-level training. Graduates serve as pastors and church planters, prison and military chaplains, youth and social workers. Their studies prepare them for Christian ministry across the Baltic region and the former Soviet world.

Mark Nelson of the Baltic Mission visited Hyde Park United Methodist in January 2006 to provide an update on the seminary and its students. He noted that the seminary is located in a country where only 16 percent of residents believe in God, and there is one United Methodist Church for every 1.5 million people. Since opening in 1994, the center has seen 97 percent of its graduates go on to Christian ministry across the former Soviet Union.

For more information or to get involved contact Pam Carpenter, church liaison, email or phone 813.258.8357. The agency’s liaison, Meeli Tankler, can be reached at email. More information is available at the Baltic Mission Center website.  To subscribe to the newsletter send an email message with no text or title to this address. You will receive an email confirming your subscription.

Click here for the latest newsletter.

For Love of Children (FLOC) is a pre-school that serves disadvantaged inner-city children from ages three months to six years. It was founded in 1989 as a ministry of Johannesburg’s Central Methodist Mission to provide quality education in a safe, caring and stimulating environment. In April and October, Hyde Park United Methodist sent mission teams to visit FLOC and see the program and assess its needs.

In 1994, FLOC expanded its ministry through partnership with a homeless outreach program. This partnership provides English-enrichment classes to facilitate children’s acceptance into English-language schools.

Children at FLOC get to interact with others, enjoy healthy meals, stimulate their intellectual development, and even enjoyed a visit from Nelson Mandela. FLOC’s greatest challenges are to maintain the quality of educational services and to meet the costs of serving more children. Hyde Park United Methodist pays for scholarships for three children at FLOC through our Faith Promise Fund.

For more information or to get involved contact Susan Anderson, church liaison, email or phone 813.259.9688. The agency’s liaison, Sibibgile Ncube, can be reached at email. More information is available at the FLOC website.

A message from FLOC (October 2009):

Greetings from all of us at FLOC. It was such joy to receive visitors from your church. Thank you so much for the cheque we received. it will indeed help us with our kids.The kids are all well and we are ready for our end of year activities.Please pass our heartfelt gratitude to the congregation.

lots of love

FLOC Staff & kids

Ronald S. Davidson is a missionary with the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church serving as coordinator of volunteers in mission in Honduras. The Honduras Mission is a Mission Initiative launched in 1994.

“I coordinate volunteer teams from all over the US,” he states. “Some teams come from small churches and some come from large churches, but all of the volunteers have servants’ hearts and willing hands to work alongside their brother and sisters in Christ. Construction teams are helping to build worship centers, educational facilities, and parsonages, and they also do maintenance on existing buildings. Other teams work with vacation Bible schools. Others teach sewing, knitting, crocheting, and craft-making classes. Medical groups engage in health, dental and eye clinics.”

“Arrangements for housing, transportation, and food are made prior to teams’ arrival. We do all this to help to fulfill the motto, ‘Christian Love in Action,’ of United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM).”

Ron and his wife Loretta began their mission experiences in 1999, when they served for the first time in Honduras with a VIM team. They felt God’s call on their lives in 2000 and continued to visit and volunteer as often as their jobs permitted. In 2005, God opened the door for them to live and work in Honduras full time.

Born in Winter Haven, Florida, Ron graduated from Campbellsville College in Kentucky with a major in Bible and a minor in English. He has been a minister of music and had pastoral roles in churches in Kentucky. Ron was coordinator for ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages), and served on the Missions Committee for Skycrest United Methodist Church in Clearwater, Florida, his home church. He was in the Stephen Ministry program, and on the missions committee at Heritage United Methodist Church Clearwater, before becoming a Global Ministries missionary.

See Ron's latest newsletter here.

For more information, the agency’s liaison, Rachael Barnett, can be reached at 212.870.3790 or email. More information is available at the General Board of Global Ministries website.

Heifer International was founded in 1944 by Dan West, a Midwestern farmer and Church of the Brethren youth worker. Heifer’s mission is to work with communities to end hunger and poverty, and care for the earth. Since 1944, Heifer has provided help to 9.2 million families worldwide.

Heifer provides 24 different kinds of livestock - from sheep to honey bees - to 928 projects in 54 countries on 5 continents, including 27 states in the United States. It has helped 12 million families move toward greater self-reliance through raising livestock, training and “Passing on the Gift” - where recipients agree to share offspring of their animals with others in need.

United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) and numerous other churches sit on the HPI Board of Directors. Hyde Park United Methodist groups have purchased animals every year, including a llama, honey bees, a water buffalo, a pig, rabbits, chicks and ducks in 2008. You can also donate to Heifer International via the quarter bank in the Aldersgate Corner Bookstore and Coffee Shop.

For more information or to get involved contact Lynn Osborne, church liaison, email or phone 813.253.5388. The agency’s liaison, Diana Carsey, can be reached at 727.409.5415 or email. More information is available at the Heifer International website.

 The Cuba-Florida Covenant, now known as Methodists United in Prayer, was created in 1997 between Cuba and Florida Methodist bishops to promote a renewed church/family relationship between Florida United Methodist churches and their sister churches in Cuba.

Hyde Park United Methodist’s sister church, Guanito Methodist Church in southeastern Cuba, was turned to rubble when Hurricane Dennis slammed into Cuba in July 2005. Rebuilding is currently under way and continuing support is needed. In October of 2009, three Hyde Park United Methodist members visited Guanito and saw the progress on the church building.

Cuban churches face limited resources due to years of extreme poverty and government limitations on Christian materials. The Guanito church and our church exchange prayers and visitors to gain a better understanding of one another’s culture and worship practices.

For more information or to get involved contact Brenda Menendez, church liaison, email or phone 813.876.7981. The agency’s liaison, Renee Kincaid, can be reached at 813.885.5674 or email. More information is available at the Cuba-Florida Covenant website.

United Methodist Committee On Relief (UMCOR) - Compelled by Christ’s compassion, UMCOR responds in natural or human-made disasters with open hearts to all religions and faiths and open doors to all people. UMCOR works hard to make good use of God’s gifts. Every dollar you contribute to an UMCOR Advance goes to that program. 

UMCOR seeks to ensure that all projects are performed with integrity by working with local partners in every area of service. We strive to involve people in their own recovery. There are no victims in our vocabulary. There are only survivors whose courage, along with a humanitarian helping hand, can transform communities.

Jesus taught on the realm of God saying “It is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in the garden; it grew and became a tree; and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.” (Luke 13:19) A tiny seed grows large enough to provide shade and shelter.

Many UMCOR programs start with something small like a seed: a tarpaulin, a new tree, a toothbrush or a bottle of bleach. But these seemingly small items lead to something much bigger - shelter, food and improved health.

For more information or to get involved contact Diane North, church liaison, email or phone 813.254.7071. The agency’s liaison, Melissa Hinnen, can be reached at 800.554.8583 or email. More information is available at the UMCOR website.

United Methodist Volunteers In Mission (UMVIM), Southeastern Jurisdiction (SEJ) exists to promote, encourage and enable Christians to exemplify “Christian Love In Action.” UMVIM’s aim is to achieve the Great Commission through providing short-term mission opportunities for everyday Christians to reach a new generation with God’s love.

UMVIM provides opportunities for service in places of need around the world by developing and nurturing relationships with domestic and international leaders. UMVIM continually evaluates our contacts with these leaders to provide comprehensive project information and helps connect volunteers with suitable projects for effective service. UMVIM helps Hyde Park United Methodist in planning our mission trips.

For more information or to get involved contact Ken Cowles, church liaison, email. The agency’s liaisons, Bill & Becky Lewis, can be reached at 813.930.8113 or email. More information is available at the UMVIM website.

Upper Room Ministries has been serving Christians around the world for 75 years through The Upper Room Daily Devotional Guide, a source of inspiration, Scripture and prayer. Today, The Upper Room is published in 44 languages for 2.5 million readers in more than 100 countries.

In 2003, Hyde Park became the second congregation to join the Church Partners in International Ministry to provide funding for distribution of The Upper Room in Cuba, Africa and Bulgaria. For many of these congregations, The Upper Room is the only source of spiritual guidance available in their indigenous language. Roland Rink from Upper Room, Africa, spoke at Hyde Park in 2005. Hyde Park United Methodist members Mary Webb Walker, Marilyn Watson and Trish Krider have all published devotions.

For more information or to get involved contact Mary Webb Walker, church liaison, email. The agency’s liaison, Dale Rust Waymack, can be reached at 877.899.2780, ext 7236 or email. More information is available at the Upper Room Ministries website.

Wycliffe, Partners in Bible Translation is a nondenominational mission organization dedicated to translating the Scriptures and teaching people to read and write in their own language.

The Eberhards - Brazil
The Eberhards have been working with the Mamainde people of west-central Brazil since 1994, translating the Scriptures into the Mamainde language. These past couple of years we have seen some exciting answers to prayer with the first 12 Mamainde baptisms and the first indigenous communion service. Also exciting are the Brazilian New Tribes mission couple and two women who have begun working among the Mamainde. Pastor Daniel is another blessing. He is a local pastor with a heart for the Indians. He visits several Indian villages where he shares the Gospel and encourages the believers. Some of the villages are bilingual, so he is able to hold some Bible studies in Portuguese. 

Dave and Julie are currently on furlough where Dave is finishing up his dissertation on the Mamainde languages as well as making trips to Brazil to help with training and consulting for Brazilian missionaries.

For more information or to get involved contact Dotti DiFiore, church liaison, email. The agency’s liaisons, Dave and Julie Eberhard, can be reached at 859.858.9090 or email. More information is available at the Wycliffe website.

Click here for the Eberhard's latest newsletter.

The Edmistons - Nigeria
Pat and Melenda Edmiston are consulting for translated Scripture and assisting in Bible Translation workshops overseas. When not traveling, they are staffing Wycliffe’s member orientation and training course called Equip, which is based in Orlando, and doing further Biblical language studies. Melenda also facilitates E-learning online which precedes each Equip.

While in Papua New Guinea, the Edmistons completed a New Testament and created reading materials and an educational program in the Alamblak language along with Alamblak community involvement. They have received reports that the Scripture is being widely used today in their homes and church. 

The Alamblak have expressed interest in a translation of the Old Testaments. The Edmistons will make themselves available to assist this endeavor as much as they are able to. They also have a great burden for the many other languages without any Scripture in their language and want to help organize courses for those in the Sepik Region in Papua New Guinea.

As Pat reaches full Translation consultant status after he completes the required courses, he will be even more in demand in the Pacific, Asia and Nigeria. There is a great shortage of translation consultants to ensure accurate and quality translations. This only slows down the process of getting God’s Word into the hands of the people. Today, God’s Word is being recorded on tape and video for the hearing population and is also getting translated for the deaf languages of the world.

For more information or to get involved contact Andrea Aitken, church liaison, email. The agency’s liaisons, Pat and Melenda Edmiston, can be reached at 407.488.7245 or email. More information is available at the Wycliffe website.

Click here to see the Edmiston's latest newsletter or email message.