Many thanks to Karen Taylor, and the Celebrate Jesus Team members for their commitment to making disciples. A Special Thanks to Marilyn and David Looney for their love for the Lord and willingness to serve as the organizers.

One church member assessed community and church response with a resounding, “Wow!” Chalk it up to Celebrate Jesus Mission once again as Citra, Sparr and Anthony UMC blitzed the communities north of Ocala bringing the good news of Jesus Christ to homes. Was kingdom building really accomplished? What is the outcome of Celebrate Jesus? Pastor Jodi Hopkins believes that there is new life inside and outside the church, that through committed visionary Christians, Celebrate Jesus mission work has opened hearts, opened minds and opened doors where all seemed tightly shut before.

Dan Johnson, Pastor of Trinity UMC, Gainesville, said “it moved us out of our comfort zone.  Most of us at Trinity and Methodist at large are good at inviting people to come to us, but we’re not very comfortable going out to others. The block party was awesome-there were probably 1400 people, over 1000 were not apart of Trinity (or not yet!). But the encounters were so positive, we all want to do something like this again.”

The most important perhaps for First UMC, Gainesville according to Kay Greathouse was “ reaching out to the least the last and the lost. And if we are very lucky, we caused God to smile while we were having such fun doing His work for His honor and glory.

Don Denton the Pastor of Christ UMC, Gainesville said that “Celebrate Jesus” helped his congregation to clearly see the community around the church.  Two specific new relationships developed from this outreach mission, We now have two children’s Sunday School classes, one being led by Rosa Patrick from Bartley Temple, as well as needed help from Clifford Patrick and Beulah Brown for the handicap and shut-in ministry provided through Christ.

According to Ken  Kleckner, III, “Many within the church got out of their “comfort zones” for the first time and found that they could do servant ministry.  ‘Celebrate Jesus’ brought us together as the Body of Christ and gave to us all a better understanding of Servant Ministry.  We look forward to continuing this ministry within the church.”

Eldora Mayes, from Bartley Temple UMC said, “as we went door to door we gave out prayer cards and took prayer requests, prayed for people on the spot and we even had several people who asked Jesus to come into their life. We have contacted and revisited those who required “immediate” follow-up, and will continue to address the needs of our neighbors and friends.”

“With God’s help” Eldora said, “we will continue to do as Christ commanded us to do,” ‘Go ye therefore

Into the World and Make Disciples, Baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: Lo I am with you always, even to the end of the world.’

“Celebrate Jesus” exceeded our expectations, said Richard Stauffer from Hawthorne First UMC. “The team was on fire for the Lord and wanted everyone to know  Him as they did. Their enthusiasm was contagious. I saw how easy it is to evangelize when the Holy Spirit gives you a burden for the lost. The day began with prayer and ended the same way—often late at night. I saw fruit being gathered in tremendous quantities because we relied on the Holy Spirit and not ourselves. The week was a blessing which we will remember and treasure for the rest of our lives.