2013 Ministry ReportFirst United Methodist Church of Allen

Honoring God by seeking, engaging, and encouraging people through a life-changing Christian journey.

PURPOSEFUL

We seek to effectively reach into the mission field with intentional programming that furthers the kingdom of God.

Living Life Church celebrated its first anniversary on October 19. Every week, attendance ranges from 75-100 people & more than 60 are involved in small groups. This satellite congregation has been involved in several mission projects this year, including Change the World Weekend, Shepherd’s Pasture, Live. Love. Allen. & McKinney’s’ Make a Difference Day.

The Way, our traditional plus teaching worship service, began meeting in Fellowship Hall on September 15. In the first 10 weeks, an average of 90 worshippers attended each week to learn about The Apostle’s Creed.

MISSIONAL

We encourage every individual to be involved in at least one area of service as we become Christ’s hands & feet in service to God’s kingdom.

1,408 church & community volunteers gathered on the first weekend in May for Change The World Weekend. They accomplished projects that included shipping 130 pounds of supplies to soldiers overseas, preparing 91,800 meals for Kids Against Hunger, and driving routes for Meals on Wheels.

A team of 19 local and certified lay servants helped lead weekly worship services at two local Nursing Homes, attended by 15-20 residents & their families. The Back to School Bash in August united the efforts of 23 businesses, churches, & community groups to distribute new school supplies & backpacks to more than 300

Jubilee changed the financial status of more than 300 participants. The Baby Steps Baby Shower mission project raised $1,088 for agencies serving children & infants in Collin County.

With our Boy Scout charter troops, we built a 1,000 sq ft Garage Addition, saving the church approximately $25,000. Our Sunday school children contributed $500 to support Chantal and her family living in Africa. Send Hope received $22,212.98 through generous giving as well as dedicated coffee and donut consumption. More than 1,100 people attended Heart 2 Heart, a Connections concert that raised $12,700 for the United Methodist Committee On Relief (UMCOR).

FUMC collected $2,527 for the City of West following an April explosion that devastated that community. We donated $3,702 to aid in Midwestern tornado relief efforts, and our DARING Youth Choir delivered 99 relief buckets and provided clean up labor in Moore, OK, on the first day of their June choir tour.

Allen ISD students. Children from 158 families received 238 pairs of new shoes, 126 bike helmets, 60 haircuts, & a hot lunch. The church & community raised $10,500 to purchase shoes for every child who attended. More than 120 volunteers made the event a success.

The Change the World Christmas Challenge on November 9 & 10 offered more than a dozen missional opportunities to encourage us to give back by helping others this holiday season. FUMC teamed with Suncreek UMC to serve the families served by the Trinity River Mission in Dallas.

70 junior high & senior high youth attended mission trips at Mission Waco this summer. Throughout the year, their mission projects supported Project Linus, Change The World, Kairos Prison Ministry, & Church Under The Bridge.

26 adults and youth traveled to Honduras in July to serve at the House of Hope.

This fall, FUMC Allen was one of three Collin County United Methodist churches supporting a Habitat for Humanity build in McKinney.

Our United Methodist Women raised $1,500 for scholarships & missions through two major fundraising events: the Fall Bazaar & the Palm Sunday Bake Sale. The United Methodist Men organized a Garage Sale that raised $2,800 for educational scholarships.

IMPACT

We desire to be a kingdom-minded church that gives people authority, resources, & support to bring about radical change in our communities & world.

Little Dresses for Honduras turned pillowcases into dresses for little girls served by Send Hope. To date, volunteers have assembled more than 300 dresses, 34 changing pads, & 14 pairs of boy's shorts.

W’otter Aid, an IMPACT project led by two elementary school students, collected $2,200 this year to benefit WaterAid, the leading charity for clean, safe water & sanitation in 27 countries worldwide.

GIVING

We will become a congregation that is completely free to follow God’s teachings about our relationship to money & possessions.

The seventeen Financial Peace University sessions taught at FUMC

Jubilee changed the financial status of more than 300 participants. The Baby Steps Baby Shower mission project raised $1,088 for agencies serving children & infants in Collin County.

With our Boy Scout charter troops, we built a 1,000 sq ft Garage Addition, saving the church approximately $25,000. Our Sunday school children contributed $500 to support Chantal and her family living in Africa. Send Hope received $22,212.98 through generous giving as well as dedicated coffee and donut consumption. More than 1,100 people attended Heart 2 Heart, a Connections concert that raised $12,700 for the United Methodist Committee On Relief (UMCOR).

FUMC collected $2,527 for the City of West following an April explosion that devastated that community. We donated $3,702 to aid in Midwestern tornado relief efforts, and our DARING Youth Choir delivered 99 relief buckets and provided clean up labor in Moore, OK, on the first day of their June choir tour.

IMPACT

We desire to be a kingdom-minded church that gives people authority, resources, & support to bring about radical change in our communities & world.

Little Dresses for Honduras turned pillowcases into dresses for little girls served by Send Hope. To date, volunteers have assembled more than 300 dresses, 34 changing pads, & 14 pairs of boy's shorts.

W’otter Aid, an IMPACT project led by two elementary school students, collected $2,200 this year to benefit WaterAid, the leading charity for clean, safe water & sanitation in 27 countries worldwide.

INVITING & CONNECTING

We will leverage existing and develop new starting points to engage our community, defining a clear path to further engagement.

Evangelism volunteers distributed 900 ice pops to the Allen High School Escadrille during band camp this summer. We distributed 16,000 door hangers to invite our neighbors to Easter services & Back to School/Back to Church. We took our jumbo grill, hundreds of ice pops, fans, hot dogs, buns, and water bottles to the high school football stadium to host six Football Tailgate Parties this fall.

Faith Academy offered 25 different Bible studies this year, and leaders premiered GPS: Grow Pray Serve as a four-week path to church membership. In October, 44 people attended a spiritual seminar, What God Wants for Your Life. FUMC commissioned 17 Stephen Ministers this spring, & seven more began their training in September. In October, adults went deeper in their study of a Hope Worth Giving in their small groups.

Our Membership has grown by 16 new families, representing 35 adults & children. 24 children & adults were baptized this year, & 37 new members joined through Confirmation last spring.

37 King’s Players presented I am the Vine to more than 175 people following the Seder Meal hosted by the Senior Adults on Maundy Thursday. A cast of 22 are now rehearsing for a December Dessert Theater. 32 ushers, acolytes, & worship helpers serve faithfully each week. Our October Blessing of the Animals welcomed 19 dogs, three cats, & one snake.

In January, Recreational Ministries welcomed 175 children to Upward Basketball & Cheer who were coached and encouraged by 40 youth & adult volunteers. In July, 120 children & 15 leaders participated in Summer Sports Camps. This fall, 400 people crowded the gym on Saturdays to watch 100 kids

play Upward Soccer led by more than 30 volunteers.

We enrolled 65 participants in Run for God & 40 in weekly Yoga classes. 17 middle school youth sharpened their skills at a Basketball Clinic, 10 Hallelujah Hikers take on the trails each month, & 10 guys of all ages attend Open Gym on Sunday nights. The CrossCounty Riders hit the road on their motorcycles each month, and a dozen gamers meet twice a month in the parlor for Senior Adult Game Night. 40 Senior Adults attend XYZ Luncheons each month during the school year.

Our Angel Ministry volunteers distributed 96 vases of flowers to home bound members & nursing homes. 35 Prayer Shawls have been distributed to members undergoing surgical procedures or welcoming new babies.

Each year, hundreds of individuals receive care & support from the variety of groups hosted at FUMC Allen, including the ADD/LD Parent Support Group of Collin County, CareGivers United, Rebuilding Life, Grief Recovery, Divorce Recovery, Prayer Chain, Mourning After, & Reach Out.

Each month during the school year, 18-20 special needs youth are our guests at APT G: A Place to Go, hosted by 30 volunteers.

Vacation Bible School touched the lives of 400 children & 10 volunteers. Volunteers passed out eggs at the City of Allen’s Easter Egg Hunt & distributed countless pieces of candy at the October Fall Festival held in the church’s parking lot.

50 children on average participate each week in Junior Youth Fellowship, a mid-week bible study held during the school year. 100 children attend

Sunday School every week. Friday Night in the Light taught 15 third grade children & their families how to use the new bibles they received on Bible Sunday. 25 fifth & sixth grade students learned about their bodies in Created by God.

This summer, Catalyst Youth Ministry welcomed a new youth pastor who leads a team of volunteers and an average of 80 students at Sunday school & youth fellowship. 89 students attend-ed Great Adventure Weekend, a youth-led retreat held at Pine Cove Camp each spring. Four Mid-Week Bible Studies teach discipleship to an average of 32 youth each week.

Our Facilities serve as home to our chartered scouting organizations: Boy Scout Troop 306 & Troop 328, Venturing Crew 5252, & Cub Scout Pack 1630. 15 Girl Scout troops & Cub Scout dens meet regularly in our classrooms. In addition, our facilities supported two major Allen Community Outreach events, seven community groups, & dozens of local basketball teams.

Twice a month, our church hosts WyldLife, a ministry that touches the lives of more than 100 middle school students. The Legal Aid Clinic, held at the church each month, serves the legal needs of approximately 47 clients per month. Our volunteers serve clients, attorneys, & paralegals meals prepared by our adult Sunday school classes. Our Ministry Center is home to eight Alcoholic Anonymous & two Al-Anon meeting every week year round.

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Cover photo by Scott Gallaway