First United Methodist Church

Foundry

What is Foundry?

We pair mentors with young adults to help them achieve their goals within a Christian framework. In the early Methodist movement, the Foundry was a place where free school, medical care and housing was given to children, orphans and single mothers. The Foundry exists for personal and social transformation. 

Through the Foundry, our goal is to testify to the coming Kingdom of God by committing ourselves to the work of God that brings peace, wholeness, and justice like nothing else. This fulfills our mission by achieving three core initiatives: grow in our own relationship with God; help those we serve experience and hear of God’s grace and love; demonstrate and invite our community into a faith-community through local service.

Why the name Foundry?

The Foundry was the hub of the early Methodist movement. In addition to worship, The Foundry was a place where free school, medical care, and housing was made available to neighborhood children, orphans and single mothers. There was a spirit of social entrepreneurship among Wesley and these early Methodists. Problems in their city were opportunities to demonstrate the powerful and constantly available transforming grace of Jesus Christ. This Christ-like transformation is for individuals as well as communities. The Foundry exists for personal and social transformation. We will do this through service and support of young adults aging out of the foster care system in Orlando. This beautiful history is the inspiration to relaunch Southstreet Ministries as Foundry.

Direction for the Foundry

As a church to tangibly demonstrate what it means to be a Christ-Like Servant requires two components. Firstly, that we are personally committed to Christ, growing in our faith, and seeking opportunities to invite others into a faith journey after Jesus. Secondly, that we are seeking out solutions to problems that our community is facing. We know that it is inadequate to withdraw into our own building, as faith in Christ compels us out into our community and to seek human flourishing for each and every person.

Through the Foundry, our goal is to testify to the coming Kingdom of God by committing ourselves to work of God that brings peace, wholeness, and justice like nothing else. It is our duty as a church of Jesus Christ to seek and serve the “least of these,” because when we do we serve Jesus himself.

“And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”

(Matthew 25:40, ESV).

Our mission is that by going and serving we fulfill three initiatives: that we grow in our own relationship with God; that those we serve can experience and hear of God’s grace and love for them; and that we demonstrate and invite our community into a faith community by inviting them to serve their city with us.

For more information, contact [email protected] or visit our leadership page for the staff contact.