Recently the Church Council voted on a request made by the Missions Committee to begin a Hispanic Ministry here at Smyrna First. Details are still being worked out. Bro. Joe will be taking the lead on the worship service, and you are invited during the next two Sunday mornings, during our Fellowship time, to direct to him any questions you have concerning this service. Please be in prayer that God will work through this Ministry to bring others to Christ.
United Methodists from the Murfreesboro district have long been supportive of mission efforts in Matamoros, Mexico.
SFUMC Associate Pastor Joe Elliott, missions coordinator for the Murfreesboro District of the United Methodist Church, has been going down there every year since 2002. Bro, Joe was one of 10 members from the district, along with three other members of SFUMC, Jo Ann Lynch, Jan Schilling and Rusty Fish, to volunteer for a mission trip to Mexico in May. Volunteers helped build a church, and also delivered supplies and visited with impoverished people of the region.
The Murfreesbobo District includes Murfreesboro, LaVergne, Smyrna, Tullahoma, Estill Springs, Eagleville and Winchester.
For volunteers, the venture was no vacation. They worked hard throughout their trip. They even worked with people whose homes were located at a landfill. They laid blocks for the wall for San Lucas Church. They also took food, toiletries, and toys to the people who lived in the landfill, where poverty hits all ages hard. The children who live there can't even attend school because their families don't have the money to buy uniforms for them. Plus they can't get on school buses unless they can get to the school bus routes.
A main focus of the trip was building the church. Progress has been slow. Construction has been going on for about three years. The latest church construction had four walls up and the volunteers poured one of the supports for the ceiling and roof while they were there. Another group of volunteers will pick up where they left off. A small group of paid nationals assist the volunteers.
The last day they were there the pastor of the church they were working on and some of the members fixed tamales, avocado salad and dessert for the volunteers. Then they shared in a wonderful worship service. The roof of the church wasn't finished and the windows in the block building weren't put in, but that didn't matter. The minister's husband was the construction leader, and he worked along with the volunteers. The people are very grateful and have strong faith. Another church in the area housed the volunteers and provided meals for them.
Smyrna First has been approved by the Rutherford County Jail to start Bible-based lifestyle training classes. We will offer a curriculum that is Bible based in the following areas: parenting, budgeting, marriage enrichment, etc.
If you are interested in getting involved, an orientation class that is required by the jail is scheduled for July 17th. It will last about an hour. Please email Jo Ann Lynch at maddoglynch@comcast.net to get signed up. You will received further details at that time.
The Bible classes will be once a week at the jail. Wolmen will teach women, men will teach men. So, even if you aren't sure but are considering it, please plan to attend the orientation meeting.
Anna Bolin is our team leader for prison ministry in the Rutherford County jail system. Anna is currently collecting soft covered Bibles. A box is in the hallway across from the office. The jail needs approximately 40-60 Bibles every week. You can purchase paperback Bibles for $1.00 each at Dollar Tree or if you purchase through this website: www.holmanbibleoutreach.org, for every Bible you purchase they will match.
Please prayerfully consider getting involved in our Prison Ministry. This will include writing letters to inmates (training will be provided) and donating to purchase birthday gift cards for the children of inmates. We cannot forget the children who are affected by a parent being incarcerated and, in some instances, both parents being incarcerated. If you are interested in Prison Ministry. please contact Anna Bolin at bolinin@gmail.com.
Thank You!
The Prison Ministry would like to thank the many people for their monetary contributions. We collected $100.00 and with that money were able to buy 200 New Testaments, due to the Holman Bible outreach program, and 40 pairs of reading glasses. Thank you so much for your continued support of this ministry!
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