Methodists celebrate 10th anniversary of its Mission Festival and Faith Promise

This is a special year for the Ardmore First United Methodist Church Mission Festival, as it recognizes its mission program for 10 years of service to Ardmore, the state of Oklahoma and even other parts of the nation and world.
The Mission Festival theme for 2008 is “Together Boldly Spreading the Gospel,” and the festival will take place Friday through Sunday. Except for Sunday worship services in the church, all events will be in the new FUMC Colvert Ministry Center at Broadway Street and E Street NW.
The weekend events begin with a pot luck dinner at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, followed by a 7 p.m. worship program. A Saturday work day kicks of at a 7 a.m. breakfast and continues with a children’s mission activity, noon lunch, 5 p.m. catered dinner and 6 p.m. worship program. During the day, teams of volunteers will work throughout the community on scheduled improvement projects. Sunday’s Faith Promise services highlight the Mission Festival at the 8:30 a.m. worship service in McClure Chapel and the 10:55 a.m. worship service in the sanctuary.
Seven mission speakers will be featured during the three-day event. Keynote speaker Doug Burr, associate pastor at Chapel Hill UMC in Oklahoma City, will speak at the Sunday services.
Former Ardmoreite Chris Hopper and his musical group will perform at both evening services.
Ardmore First United’s mission destinations this year include Mexico City; Rio Bravo, Mexico, (construction) and (Mini Med); Alaska; Uganda; Israel/Palestine; El Paso, Texas; Bolivia; and Dulac, La.
FUMC will also finance the Oklahoma Volunteers in Mission and Disaster Relief, New Day Camp, Gideons International, African Mosquito Nets Project, Habitat for Humanity, Loaves and Fishes Emergency Fund and seminary students in the Conga, Nigeria, Mexico City and Estonia.