Missionaries
Community United Methodist Church supports many missionaries with prayers and monetary gifts. Listed below are the missionaries who receive financial support from CUMC.
Missionaries with CUMC backgrounds
Pat and Melenda Edmiston
Wycliffe Bible Translators
The Edmiston’s are from Casselberry and grew up in our church. Pat and Melenda left on February 4th for Papua New Guinea, where they served for 23 years, returning for the first time since completing and dedicating the Alamblak New Testament. Their son (Dan) and daughter (Carol) will join them as they revisit their village friends. After their return, Pat will travel again to Nigeria, as a consultant with Nigerian Bible translators.
Dick Mailman
Life Skills Jail Ministry
Dick is a long time member of CUMC. He also teaches in area jails and prisons. His ministry helps change the lives of inmates. (Refer to our main Outreach page to learn more about Mailman's prison ministry.)
Lee and Karen Woods
Wycliffe Bible Translators, Papua New Guinea
Lee’s parents were dedicated members of CUMC. The church began supporting the Woods when they first ventured to PNG with their 3 young children (who have now graduated from college). Lee is in charge of aviation maintenance at Ukarumpa and Karen works as a nurse in the clinic. Their work is essential support for the Wycliffe Bible Translators.
Lee reports the new Kodiak plane arrived in September, joining the 6 airplanes and 2 helicopters he maintains for Wycliffe. Karen is treating 100-150 outpatients a day. She has personally taken 26 medivac flights around PNG and to Australia. Subbing as a vet, she answers questions such as "Is there something we can give our baby crocodile to put it out of its misery?"
Steve and Nansie Ike
Compassion in Ghana
Steve Ike is the son of Les and Pat Ike, who were CUMC members and served on our staff years ago. Steve is in charge of Evangelism Explosion and Compassion ministries in West Africa and teaches at the international school.
Mary Russell
Pioneers – “The Edge”
Mary is a long-time CUMC member and is currently raising support to be “The Edge” coordinator with Pioneers. She works in the Pioneer headquarters in Orlando.
Ken & Shelley Strong
Wycliffe Associates
Ken joined Wycliffe Associates to use his skills as an architect, designing and overseeing the construction of needed buildings all over the world for Wycliffe Bible Translators. Ken and Shelley are CUMC members and live in Casselberry.
Other Missionaries supported by CUMC
Delbert and Sandi Groves
United Methodist Missionaries, Zambia
The Groves are with New Life Center Zambia, handling many different jobs. Examples of Delbert and Sandi’s work are: Distributing PETS (providing mobility to the handicapped), training pastors, starting churches, feeding children, and printing Christian materials. Prior to Zambia, they served in the Congo and Zaire but were forced to leave because of the rebellions in those areas. The Groves are members of Pine Castle UMC, Orlando.
Ernie Kern
Outreach Ministries, Costa Rica
We became acquainted with Ernie and his work in Costa Rica because of a prior working relationship with our former pastor, Nick Thompson. Ernie’s work entails improving the lives of the Costa Rican people and bringing them to Christ. Many groups from our church have been on mission trips to participate in Outreach Ministries, with the help of Ernie Kern.
Eric and Allison Foster
Campus Crusade for Christ
Eric and Allison live in Orlando. Eric, who has led the Discipleship and Church Planning team for five years, has taken on the new role of Associate Director of New Media. He will be leading five new media teams, serving as Co-Executive Producer for major productions. He will also be working with international leaders to determine and meet their evangelism and discipleship needs.