“Roll Up Your Sleeves” Ministry
Church Members volunteering with the “Roll Up Your Sleeves” Ministry went to Mitch & Gina Spencer’s home (Frazer members) where they built several handicap ramps for Mitch, who was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, in 2013. Mitch will soon be relying on his wheelchair to get around, and that meant he needed access to his home. A group of volunteers including Walter Nanney, Bill Pace, Alex Ansley, Dale Kocher, and Bob Luginbuhl, went to Ramer and built a sturdy ramp for Mitch to access his porch, and smaller ramps to enter the house doorways.
Both Mitch and his wife, Gina, were delighted that these men came and volunteered their time and talents for them. “It’s one less item we have to worry about for Mitch and his health!”, said Gina. “We are so grateful!” Bill Pace said Gina insisted on feeding them, and he was glad to help a good friend in need.
If you’re handy with carpentry tools and want to help others in need, think about volunteering with the Roll Up Your Sleeves Ministry, and contact Walter Nanney today at 334.531.8872 or wnanney9332@charter.net.
CRAVE Youth Ministry
More than 30 students will be going through Confirmation in February. Twenty four 8th graders and eight high school students are signed up to go through the process of becoming a full member of Frazer UMC! Over the course of 4 weeks in February, the students will walk through the steps of becoming a disciple of Jesus. Our Youth leaders and pastors will give students a clear explanation of the Gospel with topics about God the Father, the Bible, Sin, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and Grace. Everything will culminate the weekend of March 7th, with a retreat at Frazer with our pastors Saturday and then on Sunday we can all join them in celebrating their decision to join the church as full members. Please be in prayer over these youth and our leaders during this very important time in their lives.
Missions
Frazer member and Mescal’s Board President Charlotte Robertson shared this good news report on Mescal’s Children’s Center of Hope in Kenya. Frazer helps support this mission organization dedicated to providing the gospel and a home to orphans. There are currently 30 children at Mescal’s and three students sponsored in Christian boarding high school. Former Frazer member Ruth Owuor now serves as the orphanage director
Charlotte Robertson:
“A young couple, Anna and Jeff Bush, want to go to Mescal’s this summer and spend a month. Jeff is the music minister at Christ Community Church on Ryan Road and Anna is the niece of my sister-in-law, Ava Griffin, who went with us to Kenya last summer. Anna and Jeff have been on many mission trips and are VERY enthusiastic about going and serving Ruth and Mescal’s children, so we are praying!
Construction has begun on the new orphanage! The entrance/gate should be complete this week and work should begin very soon on the dormitories. As excited as we are about the new construction, Ruth sent some pictures last week, reminding us of the real and primary purpose of Mescal’s Children’s Center of Hope (MCCH). Four of our children had professed their faith in Jesus and were being baptized in a creek near Kima. Seeing lives changed for eternity and for His Glory is the bottom line mission of MCCH, indeed! Praise His Name! We are humbly amazed at what God is doing through Ruth’s life and Mescal’s Kids. Our website is www.mescalskids.org and we are on Facebook.”
Frazer Charitable Trust Fund
Many people in our church family made the decision last year to “leave a lasting legacy” through donations to the Frazer Charitable Trust Fund. The Charitable Trust Fund is a permanent endowment fund established by the church in 1990. These gifts continue to give for extended periods of time, well beyond the donor’s lifetime. These tax deductible gifts to the Charitable Trust Fund allow Frazer to provided multiple scholarships to students either entering college for the first time or to adults continuing their education. In 2014, more than $235,745.00 was given out.
Forty-one Frazer members engaged in Estate Planning in 2014 through our relationship with Philanthrocorp. Anticipated gifts resulting from this planning are estimated at $8.1 million. Remembering Frazer UMC in your will and through estate planning is a beneficial way of supporting the many ministries working to spread the love and word of our Savior. For more information on Estate Planning and the Charitable Trust Fund or on applying for a scholarship, go to frazerumc.org or call the church administrator at 334.272.8622.
Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF)
Thanks to generous donors like Frazer UMC, and through the faithful volunteers serving in our Good News Clubs and summer outreach ministries, CEF of Central Alabama was able to bring the gospel to 2500 schoolchildren in 2014. Good News Clubs are in 20 area elementary schools, for this we are thankful but unsatisfied. We thank the Lord for allowing this ministry to be used to spread His good news to the children of Central Alabama and have a goal of reaching every elementary school! Thank you for your support!
This is just some of the Breaking Good News happening in our Frazer Family! Stay tuned for more details of how God is moving through Frazer UMC.