Florida Annual Conference

Mission and Ministry
Volunteers with the Canaveral Port Ministry welcome cruise ship workers on leave while their ships are docked in Port Canaveral, Fla. The ministry provides respite for homesick seafarers far from their home countries. Video image by Lilla Marigza, UM News.

Port ministry offers seafarers home away from home

Members of First United Methodist Church of Cocoa Beach, Florida, provide respite and a “home church” for cruise ship workers.
Disaster Relief
Elias Torres cleans up flood damage from Hurricane Helene at Cedar Key (Fla.) United Methodist Church. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Florida churches begin Helene recovery efforts

United Methodists across the southeastern U.S. are responding in communities that were devastated by Hurricane Helene. UM News photographer Mike DuBose traveled with church leaders and relief workers in Florida this week to document as they began assessing damage and planning relief efforts.
Mission and Ministry
An abandoned church building in Ocala, Fla., is now Compassion United Methodist Church. Photo courtesy of the Florida Conference.

Hope, care and a way forward

Compassion was in short supply outside the abandoned church in Ocala, Florida. Now under the leadership of the Rev. Jill Beck, the building houses Compassion United Methodist Church — a safe haven for women battling addictions or fleeing abusive situations.
Faith Stories
Retired Bishop Timothy Whitaker, who served as resident bishop of the Florida Conference from 2001 to 2012, died March 28. Photo courtesy of the Florida Conference.

Bishop faced death — and wrote about it

Leader of The United Methodist Church’s Florida Conference from 2001 to 2012, retired Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker has died at age 75.

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