BLUEFIELDS, NICARAGUA

FUMC began supporting Pastor Mario Rugama and the Bluefield Missions in 2001. First Church helped build a Missions house and the Betesda school in 2004. Our church sponsored trips to Bluefields between 2005-2019, which resulted in many improvements to the church and school building. Our financial support continued even when political and social unrest made it too difficult to go on site. This support provided funds for infrastructure and clean water, as well as teacher and student school supplies. 

Pastor Mario contacted FUMC in September 2024 to inform us that the Nicaraguan government had changed regulations for non-government organizations. After much discussion, it was decided that our mission there would need to end. Before ending our long relationship, we were able to assist Pastor Mario in buying his own home in the same area. A small mission team visited Bluefields one last time in January 2025 to thank Pastor Mario for serving his community for over 20 years. He sends his gratitude and blessings to FUMC for the support we have provided and the relationships built over many years.

SUDAN

Sudan Rebirth Ministry

Jacob Thon Guot, one of the “Lost Boys of Sudan” is the founder of this operations project. Jacob has a long history with First Church and Kent Kroehler. The mission is to provide scholarships to approved South Sudanese students from preschool to graduate levels. 

  • Currently 14 students are recipients of full scholarships. All of these students are South Sudanese living in South Sudan, Kenya, and Uganda.

  • Full sponsorships range from $450 to $4000 per year

The Lost Boy is Found, A Lost Boy’s Story of Faith, Hope, Charity and Love; it is available at www.amazon.com.


Check out the website!


Africa Sunrise Communities (ASC)

Jacob Thon Guot founded this capital and operations project also, to serve the people of Bor Town, Jonlei State, South Sudan by providing holistic Christian ministries. 

Current projects and progress include:

  • A 2.5 acre plot secured and a perimeter wall completed

  • Ground breaking for a school building March 2023

  • Water source repair

Ongoing and Future Goals include:

  • Create a Bor ASC office on site

  • Move Jacob and his family to east Africa in 2024 to direct the Rising Hope Christian Center

  • Organize the first school

  • Continue improvements to the property

Jacob spent 17 years in Kakuma Refugee Camp in northern Kenya prior to emigrating to the United States in 2001. He has been a FUMC member since 2003, and graduated from Lancaster Bible College. He has recently been called to return to Sudan as a missionary to his own people. 


Check out the website!

SIERRA LEONE- NarSarah Clinic & Children's Village

Rev. Dorcas Kamanda, a member of First Church, has grown a mission in her home country of Sierra Leone. This ministry is supported by First Church and Dorcas returns to Lancaster as often as her schedule allows. 

The mission includes many services such as: 

  • NarSarah medical clinic (est.2002)

  • grammar school

  • high school (est. 2009) 

  • Church

  • orphanage

  • children’s village “Mamma Land” that is currently under construction. 

  • Micro-loan services (efforts managed by Ali- Dorcas’ son)

Pastor Joe & others went to Sierra Leone in the Winter of 2023  to view the progress at the clinic of Mamma Land.  The group participated in the dedication of the foundation of a community center on  Mamma Land grounds. He described the mission as, “A holistic mission, bringing healing to the body, grace to the soul, hope for the future, & renewal to the mind”.


To support the work of Dorcas and her ministry, please click here. 

When you reach the website, search for "Serving Sierra Leone". 


View the mission's website

TANZANIA/MUTWALE

Rev. Mutwale Ntambo Wa Mushidi and his wife Kabaka Ndola Alphonsine run a mission in Tanzania that we have supported for many years. 

This Mission Center supports many outreach ministries across Tanzania including:

  • A recently completed preschool

  • A secondary school

  • A guest house for visitors and volunteers that come to work on mission projects (est 2018)

  • Coordinating care for orphans and transporting the sick to hospital

Future endeavors they hope to accomplish with our continued support are to build a health center and a sanctuary for worship. Rev. Mushidi and his wife have made several visits to First Church in the past, and hope to again in August or September of 2023.