FROSTPROOF UMC MINI MISSION, November 5-7, 2004

The Reverend Jerry Phillips, Host Pastor

On November  5-7 Frostproof First United Methodist Church held the first Celebrate Jesus Mini Mission in a local church.  There were 15 teams members who helped do neighborhood visitations led by Rev. Sam Rameriz as Team Leader and Silvia Natal as Team Pastor.

Pastor Jerry Phillips reported around 300 homes visited in the Hispanic/Latino neighborhoods around the Frostproof area.  The purpose for the mission was to reach out to the Hispanic/Latino communities inviting them to a Fiesta on Saturday afternoon and  a new Hispanic/Latino Worship Service to be held at Frostproof UMC, 11:30 a.m. each Sunday.

Many contacts were made and many prayers lifted as the weekend continued.  Approximately 400 attended the Fiesta and who wouldn’t come with all the delicious aromas streaming from the parsonage of Pastor Jerry and Linda as several Mexican ladies prepared  a feast for all!  Throughout the day there were clowns proclaiming the love of Jesus to the many children, piñatas filled with candy, and a dynamic presentation of karate, with a Christian Mexican Band resounding the gospel of Jesus in rhythms that defied anyone to sit still! 

Plans are to do bus ministry in the neighborhoods on Sundays and Pastor Jerry’s vision is to not only have worship services, but other areas of ministry and outreach to the communities around the church.  Relationships began with the Hispanic/Latino community during the hurricanes.  The church was open for food and housing and worship services were offered as well. 

Though language was a barrier at the Fiesta, no one noticed.  Smiles, nods, applause and songs of praise rang out as God’s people came together on a beautiful, brisk, Frostproof day.

Here is a P.S. already!  Pastor Jerry reports on the Wednesday evening after mission those families with teenagers were invited back for a cookout and 13 teens came to form a new youth group at the church!  As the youth left, they asked, “Can we bring our friends next week?!”     And Jesus said, “……Behold I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!” John 4:35b

Special thanks to: