First United Methodist Church

Missions: Global "Across the Seas" 

First United Methodist Church of Coppell is involved in disaster relief internationally through UMCOR, United Methodist Committee On Relief.  Items are collected on a regular basis for flood clean-up buckets, health kits, baby layettes and sewing kits.

Click HERE for the latest news from the Magruder family, missionaries from the North Texas Conference in Cameroon. 

Microfinance/Microcredit
This is a NEW Mission at FUMC Coppell, and as a congregation we were challenged this summer to contribute $2500 to Microfinance for Cameroon, Africa. This is the amount needed to start a new village with access to small loans and credit to establish small entrepreneurial businesses. With this tool the super poor (Who have never had credit) have the ability to get credit for small loans of $10 to $20 that provides the first steps out of poverty. Many loans are to woman who start small businesses and use the profits to feed, clothe and educate their children for the first time.  2005 was designated the “International Year of Microcredit” by the United Nations. The founder of the first Microcredit bank won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006. Our congregation rose to the challenge and in fact, generously donated $7500!! This is enough for 3 villages.  This donation was given to Wes Magruder during his visit to our church on July 2^nd and will be administered by RELUFA, a microcredit organization in Cameroon. What a great welcoming and send off.  This mission is in the spirit of “Self Reliance”… “Teach a man to fish” and is a self perpetuating mission. Meaning once the money is donated it is loaned out, it is repaid, loaned out, repaid, loaned out, etc. Contact Mark Alcorn, mark.alcorn@cardinal.com.

Click HERE for the latest report on our dollars at work.

Costa Rica Mission Trip

This working trip has been a part of our congregation for close to 10 years.  During these trips churches have been built, church and school repaired, Vacation Bible School for children staffed. All meals and worship are shared together. Strong relationships between the congregations have been built and maintained.FUMC Coppell will send a team of 18 adults to Costa Rica, March 15-22, 2008. The work site will be in the vicinity of Ciudad Quesada, Costa Rica.  We will conduct various construction activities likely to include work on one of the new mission churches. There will be opportunities available for providing Vacation Bible School for area children.

If you are interested or want more information on the trip, please contact Amanda Glassey (214-536-8100; aglassey@linbeck.com) or Billy Faught (972-393-7235; billy.faught@verizon.net).

Click Here to read the 2007 trip journal. It is lengthy, so patience while downloading is encouraged.  By reading this journal, you may share the emotions, the joy, the work, and the spiritual growth of these faithful disciples.

The purpose of this team is to radiate the love of Jesus Christ while serving Him in whatever capacity we have been called to serve.  We do not go just to complete a task such as building a church, providing medical care, holding a Bible School, or responding to a disaster.  Worthy as the task may be, we have a higher purpose, which is to honor God, share Christian love, and enjoy God’s wonderful people.  Our task must always be secondary to our purpose.  Task and purpose are closely related, and both should be accomplished in order that Jesus Christ will be lifted up by all we as disciples do as mission volunteers and servants.

Africa Trip
FUMC Coppell has an exciting new missions opportunity this summer for the whole congregation to participate in! We will be sending a team to South Africa from June 30^th-July 29^th to serve people in one of the areas most devastated by HIV/AIDS and poverty. The primary purpose of this trip is to extend the Grace and Hope of Jesus Christ in a tangible way that meets a substantial need.  We will be serving through the organization, God’s Golden Acre (www.godsgoldenacre.org.uk/), which is home to over 90 children who have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS or related violence. Throughout our month long stay, the team will build a house for a family in need through an outreach of GGA called Houses of Hope, love on children at the orphanage, provide weekly VBS-type activities, help with a food drop, and learn more about the many complex issues involved in the HIV/AIDS pandemic. There will also be fun opportunities to immerse ourselves in Zulu and South African culture, including a Safari and weekend trip to the Drankensburg Mountains!

For the team members who travel to South Africa, the cost of the trip is $2,000 which includes airfare, room and board, Houses of Hope costs ($6000 total), and weekend trips to the Drankensburg Mountains and a game park. We can only take 14 people due to housing space and van space, and all traveling participants must be 18 years or older. In order to secure your spot on our traveling team, you must fill out a registration form and pay the deposit of $500 by February 29^th.  Click here for a registration form.

Not only is this the trip of a lifetime, but it is also an invaluable ministry opportunity for our entire congregation to participate in regardless of age, time, or financial means. Please consider being a part of our team through prayer or financial support of the traveling team members. Please contact Julie Weaver, jweaver@fumccoppell.org if you are interested in traveling to Africa, being a member of our support team, or have other questions!
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