We Are A Matthew 25 Church
The Gospel of Matthew provides for us a parable from Jesus about what it means to be faithful servants in our earthly lives. When we feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, provide clothes and blankets to those without, tend to the sick and lonely, and when we minister to those in prison -- we are embodying Christ to a hurting world and demonstrating what God's Kingdom looks like.
Current Mission Initiatives
Here are some current or critical mission opportunities
Winter Storm 2021
Millions of people have been without electricity, water and power in the state of Texas and now the effects of the storm are busted pipes in homes and churches. The Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church is already helping, but we need your prayers, time and generous donations. All funds given through the Texas Annual Conference of the UMC that are not used for Winter Storm 2021 will be used for future disaster relief.
If you would like to contribute to a general tornado relief fund, you can write a check to Fultondale United Methodist with “tornado relief” in the “for” line. Mail it to Fultondale United Methodist, 1812 Stouts Road, Fultondale, AL 35068. If you prefer to donate online, click on the link below (Tornado Relief is the first thing you can designate your gift to on the form):
Jefferson County EMA needs volunteers to help with disaster relief cleanup on Sunday, February 28th and Sunday, March 7th. For more information or to register please click on the link below. For additional information, please contact Tawanna Willoughby at twilloughby@uwca.org
The City of Fultondale has requested the following supplies. If you can donate any of these, they should be taken directly to the Fultondale Gas Warehouse at 1390 Arwood Drive, Fultondale, 35068 between 7 am and 6 pm. Items needed include the following. (They do not need bottled water or clothes at this time.)
- First aid supplies (Tylenol, Advil, Pepto, etc)
- Flashlights
- Batteries
- Tarps
- Cleaning supplies and gloves
- Diapers and formula
- Bedding
- Towels and wash cloths
- Pet food
2/1/21 — Volunteers are needed to come to Fultondale City Hall (1210 Walker Chapel Road) to help pack boxes of donated supplies and transfer them to the Fultondale Gas Warehouse at 1390 Arwood Drive. They also need volunteers to go to the warehouse to mark out barcodes on items that have been donated (to prevent returns at stores). Volunteers ages eight and up are asked to dress in warm layers and bring a permanent marker.
2/10/21 – YOU ARE NEEDED! The City of Fultondale desperately needs volunteers at their warehouse to help meet the needs of storm victims. Many are transitioning into more permanent housing and need supplies to begin housekeeping. Any time you can give is very much appreciated by so many. YOU ARE NEEDED!! If you can help, please come to the Fultondale Gas Warehouse at 1390 Arwood Drive, Fultondale, AL 35068.
“One of the principal rules of religion is, to lose no occasion of serving God. And, since he is invisible to our eyes, we are to serve him in our neighbour; which he receives as if done to himself in person, standing visibly before us.”
The Easter Love Offering
An opportunity to support domestic and international missions during the Lent and Easter seasons.
During the Season of Lent, we ask for a special Easter Love Offering to support several of the mission agencies/projects that we work with throughout the year. Each of these ministries provides vital services to the communities they serve.
Our goal of $10,000 will allow us to support the following ministries. Your generosity through the Easter Love Offering enables each of them to continue to serve those in need. Our Missions Committee chose these ministries after thoughtful discussion. Criteria included their association with the United Methodist Church, ties between the selected ministry and our congregation, and BPUMC efforts to place our resources where food, water, or shelter is a part of the ministry.
Local and Domestic
• Church of the Reconciler
• Fairhaven – Fountain of Light
• McCoy Adult Day Care
• Urban Ministry
International
• Rise Against Hunger
• Chile VIM Team from Bluff Park UMC
You can give online (but make sure you designate your gift for the Easter Love Offering):
You can also bring or mail a check (designated for the Easter Love Offering) to Bluff Park United Methodist Church, 733 Valley Street, Hoover, AL 35226
Chile Mission Partnership
John Elmore, UMC Missionary to Chile
Bluff Park UMC has supported missionary John Elmore’s work in Chile since 2007. We are one of about 65 United Methodist Churches throughout the U.S. that support him as his Covenant Churches. To be in a Covenant Church relationship with a Methodist missionary requires three commitments: 1) to pray for our missionary and his work; 2) to contribute monetarily to his work; and 3) to send a team at least once a year to work alongside of him.
More About John Elmore
UMVIM Teams to Chile
Since 2007, BPUMC has sent mission teams to Chile to work with John in the various towns where he has served. His current assignment in Angol is to renovate and revitalize the only Methodist camp in Chile. It will be used for spiritual retreats, youth camps, and church meetings. The rustic camp consists of bedrooms facing an indoor courtyard, a dining hall, and bathrooms. Outside are small, separate outdoor worship areas set among giant sequoias which have grown from seeds missionaries brought from California. The camp is also an easy walk to the Malleco River. One of John's visions is to develop ecological studies at the camp, incorporating hikes to the river and study of local vegetation. BPUMC’s September 2019 mission team to Chile painted all the bedrooms, repurposed old bunk beds into nightstands, painted out-buildings and fences, and landscaped the grounds. Since COVID prevented us from sending a team to Chile in 2020, the church is sending $300 per month to help with John’s work in Angol. This is in addition to the $1,950 that he received from the 2020 Easter Love Offering. We will send another work team to Chile when it is safe to do so!
Mission Contacts
Susan Reynolds-Porter
Adult Ministry Program Coordinator and Missions Program Coordinator
John Elmore
UMC Missionary to Chile