Current Local Service Opportunities:
…formally known as Florida UM Children's Home
Our church has worked hard throughout the years to support the Residing Hope children's home. Residing Hope is the new name for the company that was established in 1908 as an orphanage for children that may have lost their parents. The home is in Enterprise, Florida, 33 miles East of Eustis on Lake Monroe. On months that have a Fifth Sunday, an offering is collected and then shared with Residing Hope children’s home.
It’s our privilege to love and support the kids at the Residing Hope children’s home through prayer, financial support, and a yearly day of service on their campus.
For more information about the Residing Hope children's home, visit their website: www.residinghope.org
… is a non-profit foundation whose mission is to provide support to Lake County’s most vulnerable youths as they strive to live independently as successful adults. Forward Paths is the only organization that is working to address homelessness among young people in Lake County. The young people include youth who have become homeless because of dysfunctional family situations, those who have aged out of foster care or are otherwise without basic resources to take care of themselves and pursue a pathway to personal independence.
Forward Paths has built a tiny home community in Eustis, The Cottages on Grove will provide housing for 20 young adults. This program will be supervised by Resident Managers to ensure a safe environment for those pursuing their educational job training goals. The community has been built on the donated land just north of the FUMCE’s main campus. Mentoring will be provided in the critical skills that employers are looking for such as being organized, dependable, having a positive attitude, wearing multiple hats, making a strong commitment, being willing to go the extra mile, decision making and communication. The youths will receive assistance in finding part-time employment and applying for either college of vocational training. For more information, call 352-408-2307 or email info@forwardpaths.org
First UMC of Eustis (FUMCE) is ready to deepen our connection with a this local mission - “The Open Door” - a resource center sponsored by Life Stream to assist homeless clients with a variety of resources. The center doesn’t provide overnight shelter, but provides what is necessary to get a homeless visitor through the day and hopefully back on his or her feet. Guests to the Open Door can shower, do laundry, have a snack and store belongings in lockers. They can look for jobs and research benefits using the center’s computer or simply have a place to rest. Volunteers and staff refer homeless clients to the proper agencies to get ID’s, housing, food, clothing, shelter and mental or medical help. Guests can also receive mail at the center.
Our mission at FUMCE is to assist Open Door through various means including: providing volunteers a few hours per week, assisting with snacks or sandwiches for meals, and purchasing and donating various items to meet their daily needs. If you would like to assist as a volunteer; please contact Katie Roberts (assistant) at (352-589-8157).
Current National and International Service Opportunities
Carson & Sarah Files Myers
Myers on Mission with Refuge KC
Carson Myers, and wife Sarah (who grew up at FUMCE), joined the team at Refuge KC in 2022. Carson's first affiliation with Refuge KC was as a college intern in the Summer of 2017. It was during his college years, while being discipled through the Baptist Student Union and working at the International Student Office that Carson first accepted a call into cross-cultural ministry. Carson obtained his Bachelors in International Studies and Masters in Business Administration from Missouri Western State University. He is currently pursuing a Masters in Divinity from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Sarah obtained her Bachelors in Human Development and Family Studies from Auburn University and her Masters in Education from Rockhurst University.
Joshua House Life Centers In Ukraine
First UMC of Eustis supports the Joshua House Life Centers (JHLC) in Ukraine led by missionaries Jim and Sandy McCann. For the past twenty years they have been in ministry caring for orphans as their own children, who had nowhere else to turn. JHLC ministers to the poor, impoverished, widows and orphans, demonstrating the Gospel by bringing deliverance to those who are oppressed.
For more information, visit www.joshuahouselifecenters.org
First UMC of Eustis is partnered with UMCOR - The United Methodist Committee on Relief. When disaster strikes nationally or internationally UMCOR is there to help and we support their efforts through financial donations and prayer.
For more information, visit www.umcor.org
METHODISTS UNITED IN PRAYER COVENANT
A relationship between The Methodist Church in Cuba and The Florida Conference of The United Methodist Church
Affirming our common bond in Jesus Christ and our historical Wesleyan ties, we, the members of The Methodist Church in Cuba and the Florida Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church, propose the "Methodists United in Prayer," as a relationship in Christ with one another. Noting Paul's words to the very diverse community gathering in a house church in Corinth, that "...we are partners in the work of service to our God..." (1 Cor. 3:9), we acknowledge our partnership for greater service to the mission of God and a stronger witness to the love of Jesus Christ.
FUMC Eustis has a sister church in Cuba, El Cornito Way Methodist Church in Las Tunas. The pastor of the church is Pastor Omar Leyva Ramirez. We support our sister church through prayers, visits, funds for ministry and salary support for the pastor.