News

Riviera United Methodist Church has been an exciting place of worship as the St. Petersburg area has come out of the pandemic. Our holiday services and special services, like Scout Sunday and Riviera Day School Sunday, have seen incredible increases. This growth stems from an amazing team of volunteers who helped put together special events

The Florida United Methodist Foundation is pleased to announce the first recipient of the Ben & Martha Simmons Scholarship in its inaugural year. The Ben & Martha Simmons Scholarship Fund was created to support the education of seminary students seeking ordination within The Florida Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church.  Through The Florida United

Now more than ever, college students bring with them into young adulthood unprecedented anxiety about finances. A 2023 study by Ernst and Young[i] found that less than one third of Gen Z, those Americans aged 16-26, feel financially secure. Their specific concerns are not having enough money and making the wrong choices with their money.

I am excited to share three updates regarding our incredible staff at the Florida United Methodist Foundation. On August 14th the Foundation welcomed Tamika Smith as our new Assistant Treasurer.  Tamika comes to the Foundation from The Vanguard School in Lake Wales where she was Director of Finance. Having served as a member of the Foundation’s Board

Andy Craske, the foundation’s vice president of loans and investments, shares valuable insights into the 2023 market thus far. The information should be useful to churches with FUMF Funds accounts — the Foundation’s investment funds for churches and related agencies — or anyone looking to know the state of the market right now. How did

The Florida United Methodist Foundation is proud to announce the 2023 Sinclair Scholarship recipients. Established by Aleen and Carson Sinclair, longtime members of John Wesley United Methodist Church in Tallahassee, the Sinclair Scholarship supports the spiritual and academic development of college-bound first-year students. Each year, the Foundation’s board members on the Scholarships and Grants Committee

Attending the Florida Annual Conference is a vital opportunity for us to meet our ministry partners from around the state face-to-face. We thank all — longtime supporters and new connections alike — who stopped by our table in Branscomb Auditorium at Florida Southern College. Foundation staff members were available to talk all things stewardship and

Despite increases in living costs, particularly housing, Florida continues to attract new residents. Some come with employment in hand, some with the promise of jobs, others with little more than hopes and dreams. In consequence, exponential growth comes with exponential need. To that end, the Osceola county nonprofit Hope Partnership has seen unprecedented demand for

Andy Craske, the foundation’s vice president of loans and investments, shares valuable insights into the 2023 market thus far. The information should be useful to FUMF Funds account holders, or anyone looking to know the state of the market right now. The economy’s forward path has become even more complicated with recent high-profile but isolated

Gary and Sherry Eldred are a clergy couple who have been in ministry since graduating from college. Gary works as an ordained minister, most recently at Christ United Methodist Church in Leesburg, while Sherry worked as a high school teacher alongside her involvement in the church. “He is the pastor,” said Sherry, “Although, to be