FLUM MISSIONS AIDS TORNADO VICTIM
Many, many families have been able to return “home” due to your contributions. Many houses have been furnished, appliances replaced, beds secured, and on and on over this past year. I would like to tell you of one tornado victim who lost everything she had, was injured and has just gotten back on her feet. She had a business of cleaning apartments prior to the storm. She really wanted to get back in her business but had no capital to purchase the cleaning supplies she needed to get started. I was contacted to see if FLUM could help. We were able to provide her with enough supplies to get her started and help her have what she needed to begin again. She was thrilled and wrote: “Grateful, that’s how I feel, knowing I have goodhearted people like you to share life’s journey. Thank you for being such a blessing just by being who you are. Thank you kindly.” Signed, Vanjewel’s Cleaning Service, Miessha Williams.

CHILE MISSION PROJECT
Elizabeth Wallace has led mission teams to help Methodist congregations in Chile for the past eight years. This year, rather than physically taking a VIM team to Chile, she is asking for donations to help furnish the materials needed to complete a church before the cold winter of Chile begins. The work will be done by members of the congregation and fellow Methodists in the area. Presently, the need to finish the church requires windows, doors, and gates to be installed. Walls and floors need to be completed as well. Your donation to Forest Lake United Methodist Church Missions with Chile Mission in the memo will be sent to the Corporacion Metodista de Chile to be used for the Linares Church. May God bless you for your generous giving of your resources to the “least of these.”

CONGRATULATIONS GEORGE RABLE
The 2011 Burnam Distinguished Faculty Award from the University of Alabama was presented to our own George Rable. The Burnam Award is one of the highest honors the University bestows on its faculty. The award is presented annually to the professor who is judged by a faculty selection committee to have demonstrated superior scholarly achievements and profound dedication to the art of teaching. This honor is one of many Dr. Rable has been given through the years for his award winning books on the American Civil War. His most recent book, “God’s Almost Chosen People: A Religious History of the American Civil War,” has won the Jefferson Davis Award for history from the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond, VA. The congregation extends congratulations on this latest honor. We are fortunate to have Dr. Rable as the teacher in the Fellowship class as well as presenting a series of lectures taken from the book during Midweek.

MISSION FAIR/ TALENT SHOW A SUCCESS
Adam Lang headed a team from the Mission Committee that put together a terrific talent show coupled with a mission fair on Sunday night. John Harpole was the emcee who introduced some of FLUM’s most talented performers. Representatives from many of the ministry agencies supported with our mission budget were here with displays and a brief explanation of their ministry. Tammy Morton contacted each of them and invited them to come. A good crowd enjoyed the show and the refreshments provided by Nikki Burton. Max Shores handled all the lighting and sound for the show. (What would we do without him?) Donations were received to be used in our mission ministry. Thanks to all those who worked so hard to put this show on, all those who supported it and especially all the great talent.

BIBLE STUDY CLASS MAKES A DIFFERENCE
A social worker called about a child with severe scoliosis. An area charity made arrangements for the child and his mother to get to St. Louis where two weeks of preparation for the surgery would precede six weeks of recovery before returning home. The mother will stay at the hospital with the child. This leaves the expense of eating three meals a day for this indigent parent. The Adult Bible Study Class made a generous donation to help defray the cost of her meals. She will need a tremendous amount of money for this long stay, but this makes it much easier. Thank you for having a heart for those who need us so much.