Good News Florida

GoodNewsFL.org 41 NOVEMBER 2017 LOCAL During the month of No- vember, churches throughout South Florida are uniting to participate in Love South Florida, and you are invited to join them. The goal of Love South Florida is to tangibly demonstrate God’s heart by praying, giving and serving to- gether to benefit our commu- nities. All local congregations are encouraged to join the an- nual initiative, which was started by Church United last year. “Prayer unites the church like nothing else, so #LoveSFL begins in prayer for our friends, co-workers, neighbors and city. As we pray, we ask God to reveal tangible needs and opportunities to show love,” said Edwin Copeland, Director of Church United. Participants are encour- aged to give three pounds of food and $39 toward ministries and nonprofits who are meeting felt needs in the community. They are also encourag- ing congregants to volunteer at least three hours of their time to serve alongside a school, ministry or nonprofit that is making a difference. Block Rebuilds This year, Church United is also partnering with Re- building Together Broward, a national nonprofit that pro- vides low-income homeown- ers with critical home repairs, to host three neighborhood re- vitalization projects in Pom- pano, Dania Beach and Fort Lauderdale. These Love South Florida Block Rebuilds will start early in the morning on each Saturday in Novem- ber with hundreds of volun- teers planning to gather to paint, provide minor repairs and plant landscaping for ten or more homes in one city block. They will meet at Ronald McNair Community Center in Pompano Beach on November 4; at C.W. Thomp- son Park in Dania Beach on November 11 and at Mount Bethel Church in Fort Laud- erdale on November 18. The month long effort will bring to- gether dozens of local churches with business part- ners and volunteers for one common mission. “Our primary goal is to elim- inate unsafe and deplorable liv- ing conditions for low income homeowners who are elderly, veteran and/or have disabili- ties,” explained Robin Martin, Executive Director of Rebuild- ing Together Broward. “This work creates safer and healthier environments and makes it possible for people to live in their own homes independently and for longer periods of time.” “We’re excited to partner with Church United, as it reflects the very heart of service and our mission,” said Martin. “Rebuild- ing Together National was founded almost 50 years ago by a church in Midlands Texas, and we hold our relationship with local churches as very im- portant. Through partnerships like this, we are able to provide tangible ways in which Chris- tians can live out their calling to serve people in need.” The Numbers Ultimately, Church United hopes to make a noticeable difference in the lives of South Floridians. In 2016, churches collectively raised $250,000, collected 50,000 pounds of food and logged 20,000 vol- unteer hours during #LoveSFL. They’re hoping to surpass those numbers in this second year. If you would like to learn more about how you or your church can get involved in #LoveSFL, visit ChurchU- nited.city. Churches Work to Love South Florida Shelly Pond Good News