Pray For Peace 2008
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Seminole United Methodist Church
5400 Seminole Boulevard
Seminole, Florida 33772-7399
Office Phone: 727-391-9781
Preschool Phone: 727-391-0657
5400 Seminole Boulevard
Seminole, Florida 33772-7399
Office Phone: 727-391-9781
Preschool Phone: 727-391-0657
RayaSue and Doug were both born and grew up in Miami. RayaSue
graduated of the University of Miami School of Music and was
teaching music in Dade County when she met Doug. After they
married in 1970, Doug graduated from Florida Southern College in
Lakeland, Florida and the Hallmans moved to Atlanta where Doug
attended the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. Both
of their children, Michael and April were born while they were in
Atlanta.
The Hallmans served churches along the east coast of Florida in
their early ministry (Jacksonville, Delray Beach, andTamarac.) In the
early ‘80s they moved to Live Oak and then Ocala where Doug
oversaw the construction of the sanctuary for the rapidly growing St.
Paul’s United Methodist Church.
In 1987, they returned to Lakeland where Doug served as Chaplain
and Director of Church Relations at Florida Southern College for 5
years. While college Chaplain, Doug completed his Doctor of
Ministry Degree through Drew University in New Jersey and enjoyed
teaching courses in Biblical studies at the college level. RayaSue
served as the Chapel Organist and Choir Director, secretary of the
Music Department, and worked closely with artist-in-residence,
Robert MacDonald in presenting the Fine Arts Series at the college.
After leaving their work at the college, Doug and RayaSue became
full-time, overseas missionaries with the General Board of Global
Ministries. Their first assignment was in Maracaibo,Venezuela where
they helped the new Methodist community develop outreach
ministries in a barrio of over 600,000 displaced people. Their next
assignment was to Kingston, Jamaica where Doug was the
superintendent and pastor of the Coke Circuit of four churches.
During their years in Jamaica, they hosted many work teams and
were able to build a clinic, a kitchen, and a sanctuary for the
different churches in their circuit. Upon returning to the states, they
served in Bradenton, Haines City, and College Heights in Lakeland.
Michael and April both married while the Hallmans were overseas
and they are blessed with four wonderful grandchildren. Michael and
his family live in Lakeland, while April and her family live in Largo.
The Hallmans have continued their interest in missions and in recent
years Doug has made trips to Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and
Honduras. In the summer of 2002, they both returned to Jamaica
with a youth work team. Doug has led numerous educational tours to
the Holy Land, Egypt, Greece and Turkey.
graduated of the University of Miami School of Music and was
teaching music in Dade County when she met Doug. After they
married in 1970, Doug graduated from Florida Southern College in
Lakeland, Florida and the Hallmans moved to Atlanta where Doug
attended the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. Both
of their children, Michael and April were born while they were in
Atlanta.
The Hallmans served churches along the east coast of Florida in
their early ministry (Jacksonville, Delray Beach, andTamarac.) In the
early ‘80s they moved to Live Oak and then Ocala where Doug
oversaw the construction of the sanctuary for the rapidly growing St.
Paul’s United Methodist Church.
In 1987, they returned to Lakeland where Doug served as Chaplain
and Director of Church Relations at Florida Southern College for 5
years. While college Chaplain, Doug completed his Doctor of
Ministry Degree through Drew University in New Jersey and enjoyed
teaching courses in Biblical studies at the college level. RayaSue
served as the Chapel Organist and Choir Director, secretary of the
Music Department, and worked closely with artist-in-residence,
Robert MacDonald in presenting the Fine Arts Series at the college.
After leaving their work at the college, Doug and RayaSue became
full-time, overseas missionaries with the General Board of Global
Ministries. Their first assignment was in Maracaibo,Venezuela where
they helped the new Methodist community develop outreach
ministries in a barrio of over 600,000 displaced people. Their next
assignment was to Kingston, Jamaica where Doug was the
superintendent and pastor of the Coke Circuit of four churches.
During their years in Jamaica, they hosted many work teams and
were able to build a clinic, a kitchen, and a sanctuary for the
different churches in their circuit. Upon returning to the states, they
served in Bradenton, Haines City, and College Heights in Lakeland.
Michael and April both married while the Hallmans were overseas
and they are blessed with four wonderful grandchildren. Michael and
his family live in Lakeland, while April and her family live in Largo.
The Hallmans have continued their interest in missions and in recent
years Doug has made trips to Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and
Honduras. In the summer of 2002, they both returned to Jamaica
with a youth work team. Doug has led numerous educational tours to
the Holy Land, Egypt, Greece and Turkey.
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| “OPEN OUR EYES THAT WE MAY SEE” Cataracts! Cataracts cloud the vision; dim the light; lead to partial (or total) blindness. No one wakes up one morning and says, “O my goodness - I have cataracts!” Cataracts begin to steal the vision before we are aware of them. They progress so gradually that before we realize it we are not seeing the brilliance of color or clarity of detail that is before us. Often, even once someone realizes (or is told) that they have cataracts, they choose to do nothing about them because they are used to the limited vision they have, and because the procedure to remove that which is robbing them of greater vision is risky and uncomfortable. Recently at least two of our members have had their cataracts removed and they are excited about the results. Bright colors, focused words, detailed faces all greet them now as they realize the extent of the blindness they were experiencing. As we have been meeting with the pastors and leaders of the nine to twelve other United Methodist Churches in central Pinellas County talking about the situation we are all in – struggling to stay afloat, stay open, and still do something in the way of ministry - I began to think that our problem is really much like that of cataracts! We once all had a clear and focused vision of our call to witness to the love of Jesus Christ to all people in all situations. We went about serving that call with great enthusiasm. Over time, without us realizing it, things began to happen that dimmed that vision, that clouded our ability to stay focused on the goal of reaching out to the least and lost. The children in our neighborhoods grew up and left the area and were not replaced by new, young families. The culture changed and people no longer attended church because it was expected. Our memberships grew older and passed their peak earning years. In our particular area several large corporations left the area taking many high paying professionals with them. This became a service area and those jobs were replaced with hourly wage jobs. Our buildings, that have served us well, have become older – air conditioners began to fail, roofs to leak, plumbing problems developed, insurance spiraled out of sight as property values changed. Before we realized it we were no longer seeing the great vision of making a difference in the world for Jesus Christ, we could only focus on maintaining and preserving those facilities that seemed to be necessary if we were going to do anything at all. Our vision has also become clouded by uncomfortable and insecure feelings that we face as we realize that so much of what we knew for so long has changed or is changing. Our favorite old stores are gone, and these new places sell things that we can’t even figure out what they do! Things we could avoid in the past by just not going to the movies are now on our TV screens. We just want to keep the old typewriter and avoid the whole computer thing – but have you tried to find a place to buy a typewriter ribbon lately. We don’t want to face any more change, but obviously we can’t stop it! Our fear and insecurity dims the joy of the vision that we once had. It takes surgery to remove cataracts. There is some pain involved, and some risk. But the result is that we can get our vision back. We can see again all that is before us and re-claim the excitement of walking in “the light”. The process that we are involved in with our neighboring churches to “collaboratively re- invent the way we do ministry in our area” is going to be something like the surgery to remove our cataracts. First, we have to agree that the pain and risks are worth the result. Then we have to have confidence in the surgeon – in this case that would be our Lord, Jesus Christ. Then we have to place all things in his hands – our present condition, the surgery to remove whatever is clouding our vision, and the outcome of the surgery. Will there be changes? Yes. Big changes? You bet! And why are we doing this? To re-claim a clear and bright vision of how we can make a difference in the world for Jesus – starting with our neighborhoods. Will you pray with me for the work of Christ’s Church? Pastor Doug |
About Our Pastor