Increasing

Of the four Gospels, Mark’s was written first and is the shortest. Its tone is also the most urgent. There are fewer details in the telling of events and the word “immediately” is used often. Our capital campaign, “Fulfilling the Master’s Plan: Honoring the Past and Ensuring the Future,” challenges us to do the work that’s urgently necessary “under our roof” so we can be better prepared to reach out and do the work that’s urgently necessary “beyond our walls.” The work of sharing Christ’s love in the heart of downtown Gainesville and far beyond with open hearts, open minds and open doors. Like countless others have in First UMC’s 160+ years of faithful discipleship, let’s say “Count me in!” 

Jesus modeled self-sacrificial love always and everywhere, ultimately giving up his own life through death on a cross. How can we increase our own commitment to self-sacrificial love on behalf of a world that God loved so much that he gave his only Son and raised him from the dead to show that LOVE WINS!