Family Ministries of Florida

Family Ministries of Florida is located in Seffner (near Tampa) and provides a safe, Christian home environment for children who are unable to live with their parents. Christian couples serve as houseparents and provide a structured and nurturing environment for the children, including family devotion time. To view their website click here.

In December, Barbara Shoner and Richard Hanna took a team to Seffner to Family Ministries Children's Home to bless the children with gifts that members of Tomoka donated. Below are excerpts from thank-you notes that were written by the children and teens in Seffner.

Dear Friends at Tomoka –

My name is Ethan and I am 17 years old, a senior in high school and plan to attend Southeastern University in the fall. Thank you so much for making my Christmas special. I really enjoyed all the gifts…. My favorite was definitely the St. Louis Cardinals stuff. I absolutely love the Cardinals and these things were just incredible. Again, thank you so much for giving me a wonderful Christmas.

Dear Tomoka –

Thank you for the gifts you gave me. I really like the guitar. I wish I could get better at it. Thank you for everything you guys did. I hope you guys had a good Christmas just as special as mine. Have a Happy New Year. God bless you all.

Love, Tina

Dear Tomoka –

I want to say thank you for all the gifts. They were all great, and it’s always fund hanging out with you guys. I hope we have many more parties with you. Have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Your friend,

Marcus

Dear Friends,

Thank you very much for the Christmas party. I had fun playing all the games. I loved all the food and my presents. Tell Santa hello for me.

From Fran

Dear Friends,

Thank you very much for the Christmas party. I had so much fun playing games and seeing Santa. I loved my clothes! I am wearing them today.

Love,

Rele

Dear Tomoka,

It is me Ricky. I wanted to thank you for coming and having the party for us. It was a blast! I really enjoyed the gift and piñata. I can’t wait until you come back next year if you do.

P.S. You should really come back next year.

Sincerely,

Ricky

Dear Tomoka –

Hi it’s Amanda. I just wanted to say thank you so much for the Christmas presents. I really appreciate everything that you guys did for us. The lunch was awesome!!

Love,

Amanda

Resources for Women

Resources for Women is a Christian Pregnancy Care Center with whom Tomoka Christian partners. Located in Daytona Beach, they continue to be a valuable asset to our community in offering pregnancy and abortion education and counseling. Below are excerpts of a letter from their Executive Director, Michaell Hancock:

In 2011, Resources for Women had over 1400 appointments with young women. We administered more than 300 pregnancy tests, over 100 ultrasounds, conducted over 800 parenting education and Bible Study classes, and provided more than 11,000 baby and maternity items for our clients.

However, Resources for Women also saw countless tears, immeasurable brokenness, indescribable fear, and overwhelming confusion and pain. In a far greater measure, however, clients witnessed His grace, love, hope, and provision for these women, their babies, and their families.

In every opportunity we offered truth, love, and the resources to encourage them to find God's plan. Truth and love are the most powerful weapons we have to stand against the evils of abortion in our community.

Thank you for partnering with us as we partner with Him.

To find out more about this ministry or to volunteer to help, please visit their website at www.achoice4women.org.

El Salvador Mission Trip Report

Our El Salvador mission team saw great success in growing Christ's kingdom on their trip last month.

They performed a Christmas Nativity skit at VBS in El Zonte, gave away children's Bibles, and then headed to Remar Orphanage where they loved on 80 children who have no family. The team spent that day playing games and doing basic chores at the orphanage.

Next they made stockings that they stuffed with toiletries and jewelry and handed them out at the San Diego Church where they performed worship music and handed out more children's Bibles. As a result, Francisco, the little boy pictured, asked Jesus into his heart!

During the remainder of the trip, they put up a Christmas tree at the orphanage, led the children in making ornaments, led the children in more VBS and worship and praise time, and spent time in prayer with the pastor of the church.

Please continue to pray for Pastor Orland and the congregation and community of San Diego Church. Their future plans include a school for their community as he continues to feed many on very limited resources.

Additionally, please pray for the wonderful children of the Remar Orphanage, that they continue to feel God's love and presence and all come to know Him as well as are welcomed into loving families.

Food Pantry 4th Quarter Update

We had another generous and successful quarter in our Food Pantry mission to wrap up 2011. The number of food pantry patrons continues to grow and because of your donations and our wonderful volunteers, low income families continue to receive a food supplement twice monthly. To learn how to qualify to receive assistance from the Food Pantry, click here.

We served 687 households this quarter, up from 609 in the third quarter. Additionally, we served 203 more people this quarter than last.

As for our Thanksgiving baskets, we were blessed to have enough funds for 330 baskets, but ended up distributing 270. The remaining food was returned to the pantry shelves to be distributed as needed at a later date.

The Food Pantry is always accepting donations and is currently in need of any type of cereal, peanut butter, and jelly.