'We Appreciate You'

The congregation at the Free Methodist Church of Oil City (PA) has long been committed to prayer — for its members and families, conference missionaries and those who serve at the denomination's World Ministries Center (WMC) in Indianapolis, IN. Every Sunday the Oil City church includes a list of people to be prayed for in its bulletin and among the scrolling announcements (including photographs whenever possible). During the pastoral prayer Full Story...

Unique Prayer Ministry Targets Soldiers

Marty Enniss, wife of Gary Enniss, pastor of Lamb's Fellowship (Lake Elsinore, CA), wanted to do something special for U.S. troops fighting terrorism around the globe. A longtime quilter (and leader of the Women of the Cloth quilting ministry at Lamb's), Enniss prayerfully sought direction — hoping for something that would involve fabric. A friend dropped by, and when she showed her Psalm 91 a new ministry was born.
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High Hopes in the High Country

An hour west of Denver, CO, at an elevation of 9,500 feet, amidst world-renowned ski resorts like Vail and Breckenridge, the Rocky Mountain Conference has planted One Community Church. Pastored by Brent Smith, One Community is targeting postmoderns from 20 to 45 years old. This unique environment draws wealthy retirees, upwardly mobile risk-takers, seasonal passers-through trying to "find themselves," and a wide variety of working stiffs who live here to serve Full Story...

Reaching Out to Muslims in Jersey City

Every Friday and Saturday teams of young men and women armed with Bibles and tracts roam the public squares of downtown Jersey City, NJ, in search of souls in need of salvation. Located near an airport, this area is home to more than half a million people from Arab countries — its culture and language much like modern-day Cairo, Egypt. In fact, as many as 1,000 visitors, students and immigrants arrive yearly from there. Full Story...

His Banner Over Me ...

A beautiful hand-painted banner proclaims 2004 as the "Year of New Beginnings" at Venice - Santa Monica FMC in southern California. Created by long-time Free Methodist Daisy Sugiman, the banner was made by using brushes to apply brightly-colored fabric paints to pellon (a fabric commonly used in interfacing) and felt. "When I prayed for inspiration after Pastor Jim Miyabe asked me to do the banner," Full Story...

My American Hero: Mom

Antonia Fruytier, of Bad Axe FMC (MI), an eighth grader at Harbor Beach Middle School, was the first-place local winner in this year's America & Me Essay Contest. Since its founding in 1968 by Farm Bureau Insurance (to encourage Michigan youth to explore their roles in America's future), more than 300,000 eighth graders have participated in the annual writing competition. Full Story...

Spinning Hearts and Hands

In the Uduk language, monde’k means “holding hands around the circle in a spirit of agreement.” At Heart & Soul Community FMC (Rochester, NY), the congregation has placed its loving arms around the Uduks — an African people persecuted, expelled and far from home.
Forced to leave the Sudan in the late 1980s and early 1990s, many Uduk people starved, were injured or killed during years of Full Story...

Book Takes a Chop at Karate

Associate Pastor Tonie Gatlin (Grace Christian Fellowship, Portland, OR) was a nationally acclaimed black-belt karate champion, teacher and trainer with her own school before her dynamic conversion to Christianity in 1984. In her new book, The Dark Side of Karate (written with Linda Nathan), Gatlin offers “a fast-paced tour through the meteoric heights and depths of her life, looks deeply into the nature of the martial arts and examines both Full Story...

The Healing Place

Prayer and healing are two of the hallmarks of the Hispanic FMC of Salem, MA. Led by Pastor Ventura Loredo, a native of Honduras, the church — located in the heart of witch country — has a vibrant ministry to the masses, targeting the area’s 30,000 Hispanics, many of them with Catholic backgrounds.
Some 70 people attend midweek prayer services at the church (which meets in a United Methodist facility).Full Story...