Connectional Ministries

Does learning really take place if it doesn’t lead to application and transformation?  Have you really taught something if no one ever puts into action what they have heard? Sometimes the emphasis in teaching and learning is on receiving information instead of the application of it. Teaching only happens when someone learns enough to apply it and be changed in some way because of the application.     In South Georgia, our goal is to provide learning and training options that do more than just ...

Connectional Ministries understand the importance of making disciples and nurturing spiritual growth within local congregations. Transformation is happening every single day across the South Georgia Conference. We've loved hearing the feedback from our first two resource toolkits: February (Who is your one?) and March (Whose burdens are you carrying?) and are excited to roll out a new toolkit for April as we continue to put focus on our theme of "One Matters." These toolkits are designed to ...

Are you or someone you know exploring a call to ordained ministry? The Young Clergy Fellowship is designed to create experiences that assist college students in discerning their sense of calling to full-time ministry or missions, gaining broad experiences in a local ministry, and experiencing intentional discipleship through one-on-one mentoring.    "The Young Clergy Academy  provided me with a sanctuary to explore my calling to ministry,” said Sarah Hazelrig, Associate Director at the Wesley ...

Financial Ethics for Pastoral Leaders Introducing a new online teaching series designed to help strengthen the financial practices of your church! A collaborative work of Discipleship Ministries and the leadership of the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference, these 6 self-paced sessions will help guide you in your role as the pastoral leader in finance and administration in your local church. Learn more and register today   The Practical Guide to AI for Local Churches There is so much information...

The South Georgia Annual Conference is now accepting nominations for The Harry Denman Evangelism Award for Clergy, Lay, and Youth. The Harry Denman Evangelism Award program recognizes United Methodists in each annual conference whose exceptional ministry of evangelism – expressed in Word (what), Sign (why), and Deed (how) – brings people into a life-transforming relationship with Jesus Christ. Evangelism happens in many contexts and many settings; impacts and engages all generations; and ...

Connectional Ministries understands the importance of making disciples and nurturing spiritual growth within local congregations. Transformation is happening every single day across the South Georgia Conference. We loved hearing the feedback from our first resource toolkit in February and are excited to roll out a new toolkit for March as we continue to put focus on our theme of "One Matters." This toolkit is designed to empower clergy and laity in their sacred mission of cultivating meaningful...

We are celebrating the ministry of UMCOR this Sunday, March 10. Gifts to the UMCOR Sunday offering call United Methodists to share the goodness of life with those who are hurting. Your gifts to the UMCOR Sunday offering lay the foundation for the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) to share God’s love with communities everywhere. The special offering underwrites UMCOR’s “costs of doing business.” This helps UMCOR keep the promise that 100 percent of any gift to a specific UMCOR project ...

Do you love a good potluck? Have you seen the amazing power of a meal to bring people together at the table? Are you interested in doing church and community in a new way? Dinner Church is a way to provide a spiritual environment for people who might never step foot into a traditional church model. Over a meal and a casual conversation, Dinner Church allows people from all walks of life to discover Jesus in community. We hope you will join us this April at a location near you. Click the link ...

Fresh Expressions get new showcase Amplify Media, an online platform of the United Methodist Publishing House, has launched a new channel on Fresh Expressions. Hosted by the Rev. Michael Adam Beck, the channel highlights case studies of these new Christian communities that are reaching people outside church walls. Learn more | Watch channel   What’s a hype video and how to create one for your church Want to promote a new sermon series, vacation Bible school, a holiday event, encourage greater ...

Does your church have a digital presence or are you actually doing digital ministry? If you're ready to move from using social media channels to communicate information to creating online relationships that facilitate transformation, then join us for an introductory zoom that will give you practical ideas for taking your digital presence to the next step. Choose the time that works best for you: March 7 at 6pm or March 8 at 2 noon  After this introductory zoom, you will have the option to sign ...

Connectional Ministries understand the importance of making disciples and nurturing spiritual growth within local congregations. Transformation is happening every single day across the South Georgia Conference. This year as the South Georgia Conference puts focus on its theme of "One Matters," the conference staff seeks to walk alongside local congregations to provide resources for the local church’s disciple-making efforts. Each month a toolkit will roll out designed to empower clergy and ...

Monthly Resource Toolkits In South Georgia, we understand the importance of making disciples and nurturing spiritual growth within our congregations. Transformation is happening every single day across the conference! This year as we focus on our conference theme of "One Matters," your conference staff wants to walk alongside your local congregation and resource you in your disciple-making efforts. Each month we'll roll out a toolkit designed to empower clergy and laity in their sacred mission ...

Craft a mission-focused social media calendar for your church TikTok. Facebook. Instagram. The social networking site formerly known as Twitter. Let's face it: Dealing with social media can seem like a game of Space Invaders. But it doesn't have to be this way. If you plan and schedule social media content with a clear purpose, you can ensure that your digital presence remains impactful and fully aligned with your church's mission. All you need to do is craft a mission-focused social media ...

Camp Connect, the camping ministry of the South Georgia Conference, gives children and youth from rising 4th grade through rising seniors in high school the opportunity to spend a week away from normal everyday life in the beauty of God’s creation. Diving into scripture and sharing life stories will show campers they are created in God’s image and for a purpose. Five camps are scheduled for the summer: one week for high school students, two weeks for middle school students, and two weeks for ...

Rev. Michael Culbreth, senior pastor of ConneXion Church in Savannah, attended the Facing the Future Conference in November sponsored by the General Commission on Religion and Race. He shares his experience below.   As a pastor of a cross-racial congregation it was a privilege for me to represent the South Georgia Conference at the 2023 Facing the Future Conference held November 14-16 in Atlanta. The conference followed the theme: “Being, Belonging and Becoming.” More than 290 people ...

By Sara Logeman   At Global Ministries’ U.S. Mission Partners Consultation, held Nov. 28-29 in Atlanta, Ga., nearly 250 United Methodist mission leaders from 53 U.S. annual conferences gathered to discern ways to reimagine, reinvent and reignite mission in the U.S. Included in those attending from South Georgia were Bishop David Graves, South Georgia episcopal leader, Kelly Roberson, director of conference ministries, Rev. Garth Duke-Barton, conference secretary for Global Ministries, and Rev. ...

Registration for the 23rd annual South Georgia Conference Confirmation Retreat is now open. The 2024 retreat will take place March 1-3 at Epworth By The Sea on St. Simons Island.    Designed for students in the fifth grade and above, the “Join the Journey” Confirmation Retreat will provide churches of ALL sizes an opportunity to connect with others through worship, study, and fellowship. Bishop Graves will be joining us for the entire event!    For more information and to register your group, ...

The South Georgia Conference is centering itself around prayer in 2023. December’s prayer guide is written by Rev. Teresa Edwards and Mr. Gerald Boyd and is now available at www.sgaumc.org/year-of-prayer.

Journal includes conference business, directories, reports, appointments, and statistical tables The 2023 Journal of the South Georgia Annual Conference is now available for purchase. Those wishing to purchase a Conference Journal will order their copy(ies) online directly from the printer. The cost of the Journal is $25 each plus tax and shipping.  “I am appreciative of the time and effort that our Journal Editor, Rev. Dr. Ted Goshorn, put into this year’s publication,” said Meredyth Earnest, ...

The South Georgia Conference is centering itself around prayer in 2023. November’s prayer guide, written by UM Commission on Higher Education and Collegiate Ministry leaders – Jonathan Smith, Linda Buchanan, Albert Williams III, and Michael McCord – is now available at www.sgaumc.org/year-of-prayer.  

Do you know a college student who may be interested in a summer of ministry? Camp Connect, the summer camps sponsored by the South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church, might just be the place to serve!  Living at Epworth By The Sea all summer, our camp staff will be able to minister to hundreds of youth and children, while making Christian friendships with other staff members that last a lifetime.  As a paid position, staff members on the Leadership Team will commit to nine weeks ...

2024 Revised Common Lectionary Sundays & Special Days Calendar Discipleship Ministries' most popular resource is now available! Visit UMCDiscipleship.org to download the 2024 Revised Common Lectionary Sundays & Special Days calendar. The Revised Common Lectionary is a three-year cycle of scripture texts following the liturgical year and is designed to be used in worship week by week. For churches and worship teams who follow the lectionary, this resource gathers all those readings for the ...

October is Clergy Appreciation Month! Here are 10 ideas for how you might support your pastor this month and all throughout the year:   Offer to make pastoral care visits and calls for a week. Volunteering to help make visits and calls offers your pastor a break to focus on other tasks for the week and helps the people receiving the visits and calls a new personal connection. Make a charitable donation. Donate to a local charity or one of our United Methodist related ministries (like The ...

The South Georgia Conference’s annual weekend retreat for youth, Encounter, will be November 17-19, 2023, at Epworth By The Sea. Through high-quality preaching and worship, youth have the opportunity to encounter God in a new setting, deepen their faith, and learn what it means to put their faith into action at school, with their friends, and in their community.   The theme this year is “Stories.” Students will be invited into a better understanding of how God’s story becomes our story, and what...

By Suzanne Akins After spending a couple of fall football weekends in Athens, it’s pretty obvious that college students are able to choose their own path into adulthood. There is so much freedom and so little accountability that sometimes it doesn’t bode well for responsible adulting.   But I get to see a different side of college students.    I saw a group gathered around a breakfast table asking questions and sharing encouragement as they get ready for campers to arrive. I saw an entire staff...

The South Georgia Conference is centering itself around prayer in 2023. October’s prayer guide, written by Hispanic Pastors and Laity – Rev. Daniel Medina, Rev. Felipe Ricardo, Rev. Tania Montero, Rev. Jorge Moren, and Julieta Antuna-Medina – is now available at www.sgaumc.org/year-of-prayer.   

Best Practices for handling Church Offering It’s great that people are giving on Sunday morning! But what are you doing with that money once you receive it? Check out these best practices.   Grants available to rural churches Five $500 grants are available for rural churches that wish to start or continue an outreach program to attract young people. The deadline to submit applications for the grants from United Methodist Rural Advocates is Jan. 10. Winners will be notified by Feb. 1. Read press ...

Hispanic Heritage Month is September 15-October 15   By Rev. Daniel Medina   In the book of Revelation, we are told that the Song of the Redeemed will be sung at the end of times. An important part of that celebration will be listening to the “Hispanic stanza.” I imagine that this verse will surely be sung in Spanish and by all Hispanics from everywhere.   But who is Hispanic? How do Hispanics worship? Those questions have never been easy to answer. I think that in society and especially in ...

Communications Impact Week returns September 18-22, 2023, with exclusive training opportunities and a celebration of the power of effective communication to drive successful ministry. The event, hosted by United Methodist Communications (UMCom), will showcase how communication resources and tools empower ministry around the globe.   UMCom is committed to helping local churches and leaders increase their missional capacity and engage in more intentional outreach. To celebrate Communications ...

Idalia made landfall along the coast of Florida's Big Bend around 8 am August 30, 2023, and continued its way across Florida and into Georgia throughout the day Wednesday. At this time, the South Georgia Conference disaster response team, under the direction of Luis Morales, is communicating with local Georgia officials and pastors in affected communities.  "I am thankful that Hurricane Idalia came and went," said Morales. "In its path we now have neighbors with no electricity, debris in their ...

Do you have an innovative idea for starting something new to reach your community? Do you have a heart for the lost and a passion for the Gospel? Do you have an idea and a person or two willing to walk with you, but you need a little financial spark and coaching to get things going? If the answer is YES, the South Georgia Conference Congregational Development Team would love to come beside you and spark that idea to life with Spark Grant funding!     New leaders are doing new things to reach new...

World Communion Sunday is Oct. 1 On World Communion Sunday, United Methodists will join Christians of different traditions to recognize our ecumenical oneness in Christ and to bring Christians together in a spirit of unity and peace. We have resources to inspire your community to fully embrace this Special Sunday. In the pastor and leader kit, find offertory talks, children’s messages, age-level resources, social media graphics and more. Core resources will be available in multiple languages. ...

The United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race is holding a “30 Days of Antiracism” challenge for the month of September. Each day, participants are encouraged to engage in an activity that helps them to become more antiracist in the ways they think and act.    Rev. Abra Lattany-Reed, Conference Director of  Diversity and Justice Ministries, encourages South Georgia laity and clergy to join the challenge.    “Racial justice issues are front and center within the marketplace and impact the ...

KidzQuest, the annual children’s fall retreat sponsored by South Georgia’s Connectional Ministries, is for students in 3rd-6th grades. Children and adult leaders from all around South Georgia come together with dozens of other church groups, learning how to worship, study God's Word, and understand what a relationship with Jesus really means. Amidst beautiful coastal scenery, amazing adult leaders (that's you!) and time away from home - these children are given an opportunity to experience ...

By Rev. Stephanie Smith We are seeing the connection in South Georgia move in new and exciting ways in just over two months since our Annual Conference meeting. We see God moving in home churches, host churches, fresh expressions, new partnerships, and new church starts. Established churches, serving as host churches, are working on their online presence. By doing so, they are creating an inviting connection for home churches to participate in the worship and life of the host church. This ...

By Rev. Abra Lattany-Reed   Addressing diversity, equity and inclusion issues is paramount to disrupting and dismantling racism. The South Georgia Annual Conference is committed to this work so that our conference continues to thrive. Since its inception, the Bishop’s Task Force on diversity, inclusion and vitality began the work of developing a DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) strategy that South Georgia can achieve.    At the 2023 annual conference, I shared with annual conference attendees ...

August Prayer Guide The South Georgia Conference is centering itself around prayer in 2023. The South Georgia Conference is centering itself around prayer in 2023. August’s prayer guide, written by Revs. Julia Norman, Teresa Edwards, Grace Guyton, and Cathy Tucker, all deacons in the South Georgia Conference, is now available at www.sgaumc.org/year-of-prayer.   

5 Tips for Writing Letters that Inspire Generosity It is hard to find one of our churches that doesn’t have any anxiety about the future, both in terms of membership and financial support for local mission and ministry. Read about how a simple handwritten letter can inspire generosity within your congregation.   Save time and multiply your marketing creativity with ChatGPT (UMCom) ChatGPT is all the rage at the moment, with many people giving it funny prompts, such as requesting responses in ...

Secondary trauma, the kind that comes from living life in the midst of other people's trauma, is emotionally devastating if not cared for and processed through. South Georgia clergy are invited to participate in a one-day event led by Cameron Bishop that will focus on learning how to recognize the trauma you have experienced personally or through caring for others. This one day workshop, sponsored by the Clergy Mental Health Task Force, is set for August 24 from 10am-4pm at Dooly Campground. The...

Connectional Ministries is accepting applications for the Southeastern Jurisdiction Renfro Trust Grant. This grant is a brick-and-mortar grant specifically for small, rural churches. Guidelines, requirements, and applications can be found here. Completed applications must be submitted to Rev. Garth Duke-Barton, Conference Secretary for Global Ministries (revgarth0810@gmail.com) by our conference deadline: Monday, August 21, 2023. (Note: application will say August 1)

Grants available for ethnic churches The deadline is Sept. 10 for local ethnic United Methodist churches to apply for grants of up to $10,000. Racial Ethnic Local Church Concerns grants may be used for leadership training, small groups, worship, stewardship and spiritual formation. New programs will be given priority in the selection process. Read press release 4 Ways to Live Out Discipleship in Everyday Life While a retreat can be a beautiful time to reset our spiritual practices and give us ...

July Prayer Guide The South Georgia Conference is centering itself around prayer in 2023. July’s prayer guide, written Kelly Roberson, Jay Harris and Anne Bosarge, is now available at www.sgaumc.org/year-of-prayer.  Next Book Study – August 21 In addition to the prayer guides and prayer days, book studies centered on prayer and hosted by Connectional Ministries, will expand our minds, challenge our hearts and encourage our prayer walks. Click here for a synopsis and links to register for these ...

Recordings from the 2023 Annual Conference session held June 4-6 in Tifton, Ga. are now available to view.   Opening Worship  Service of Ordination Memorial Service  ​Monday Morning Worship  Tuesday Morning Worship  Lay Leader Address  Retiree Recognition Service 

Tell the story of Annual Conference in your local church with these helpful resources. Bulletin Insert: Download a recap bulletin insert to help tell the story of Annual Conference in your local church.  Recap Video: Click here to download the recap video to use in your local church. Direct link to share on social media: vimeo.com/833798692 Articles, recordings, and photos can be found at www.sgaumc.org/annualconference. 

June Prayer Guide The South Georgia Conference is centering itself around prayer in 2023. June’s prayer guide, written by Elisa Reece, Alexandria Dickey-Tipton, Jack Caldwell, and Jesse Thompson, is now available at www.sgaumc.org/year-of-prayer.  Next Book Study - August 21 Book studies centered on prayer and hosted by Connectional Ministries, will expand our minds, challenge our hearts and encourage our prayer walks. Click here for a synopsis and links to register for these fruit-filled ...

Is your local church starting something new and needing to solidify the foundation of your ministry or congregation before you get started?     Has your local church experienced mission drift and find you are in need of a way to get your leadership team refocused and back on mission?     If your local church finds itself in either of these places, the Office of Connectional Ministries has developed a 7-part video series to guide you through the process of determining your mission statement and ...

In January 2023, Bishop David Graves, episcopal leader of the South Georgia Annual Conference, announced a new priority for the conference: church planting and revitalization.  “God has opened up new windows of opportunity to plant and revitalize churches,” said Bishop Graves. “With a renewed sense of commitment, I believe God is calling the South Georgia Conference to new and abundant life.”   During the 2023 Annual Conference session, South Georgia United Methodists will have the opportunity ...

The Office of Connectional Ministries is excited to announce a summer week-long immersion class June 19-23, 2023, at St. Simons United Methodist Church. This course is designed to dig into the basics of ministry, including worship, discipleship, preaching, leadership, pastoral care, and so much more. This is a great time for leaders who don’t have extended time during the year to join together for a quick and thorough walk through of the materials. To learn more or register for this event, visit...

This year for Annual Conference our theme is, "When They Prayed." During the six weeks leading up to Annual Conference each district has been assigned one week to pray for our Annual Conference. Laity and clergy from each district are gathering over Zoom and spending time praying through scripture, liturgy, response, and silent individual prayer. There are still three opportunities to join us. Simply choose one of the dates below and fill out the registration form. If you would like to ...

Evangelism isn’t a word you hear much anymore, unless it’s around the time you’re nominating people for committees within the church. Occasionally it may be talked about in terms of someone’s spiritual gifts as if only evangelists can do evangelism. In many ways, evangelism has become a “lost cause” in our programming and efforts today. It seems outdated in a world that shuts garage doors and doesn’t invite “visitation teams” inside for coffee and cookies.  It can even seem intimidating in a ...

8 ways to connect young adults to the church (UMCom) Young adults have a lot to offer, especially if they are taking a summertime break from school or their new job. Consider creating opportunities for them to engage with your church and community. Here are some suggestions to get you started. Read more   10 ways to engage online worshippers (Lewis Center for Church Leadership) In this time of hybrid worship, church leaders may overlook or not give enough intentional thought to the people who ...

Hispanic Ministry Task Force meets with Dr. Lydia Muñoz On April 10, 2023, the South Georgia Conference Hispanic/Latino Ministries Task Force met with Dr. Lydia Muñoz, the director of the National Hispanic Plan, for an informational, evaluation, and advisory meeting. Dr. Lydia Muñoz is in charge of helping advise and provide resources to clergy and congregations of Hispanic origin in The United Methodist Church. This office is an administrative part of the Global Ministries agency.    This ...

Camp Connect, the camping ministry of the South Georgia Conference, gives children and youth from rising 4th grade through rising seniors in high school the opportunity to spend a week away from normal everyday life in the beauty of God’s creation. Diving into scripture and sharing life stories will show campers they are created in God’s image and for a purpose. Five camps are scheduled for the summer; one week for high school students; two weeks for middle school students and two weeks for ...

By Rev. Abra Lattany-Reed    We often use sports metaphors to express transitional moments and collective efforts. When baseball players are hitting every pitched ball or quarterbacks are completing every pass, people say things like, “They’re in the zone.” Well, that statement expresses the ongoing work of Connectional Ministries. We are truly living in our spiritual zone. Currently, within our spiritual zone is the work of the Bishop’s Task Force on diversity, inclusion, and vitality.   This ...

By Anne Bosarge   I’m not much of a gardener. I don’t know what to plant or when to plant it; how much water and care something needs or the best techniques to get a good yield on my crops. However, I have a neighbor who lives behind me who is a great gardener. Dr. Douglas always seems to be able to sense when it’s time to plant each spring. He has favorite varieties of tomatoes and squash that produce far more than they are able to eat, and I do my part by receiving produce across the back ...

Tips to protect churches from fraud (Discipleship Ministries) Eight steps can help churches avoid being the victims of fraud when it comes to their finances. Among the tips are having someone different from the check signer approve invoices for payment, regular financial reports and an annual audit. Read story   How to Plan for Church Emergencies (UMCom) If you don't already have one, it is vital that your church put together an emergency preparedness plan. Having a solid plan will help to ...

$10,000 sent to the Florida Annual Conference Thank you, South Georgia! Through your generous support, $10,000 was sent to the Florida Conference to assist in relief and long-term recovery following the destruction caused by Hurricane Ian in the Fall. Confirmation Retreat 2023 Over 200 confirmands from multiple conferences gathered to worship, learn, and play together during the March 3-5 Confirmation Retreat at Epworth By The Sea. Throughout the 22nd annual retreat, confirmands were taught ...

If you want to be part of the Fresh Expression movement here in South Georgia, make plans to join us for our Imagine Day April 15.   By Anne Bosarge   Imagine the South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church expanding and growing in new ways to meet new people with the love and grace of the Gospel of Christ. Imagine seeing people coming to Christ where they work, in their homes, and in the places where they play.  Imagine what it would look like to see new discipling communities ...

By Rev. Precious Hawkins   Change: some people love it.   Change: some people despise and resist it.   Change: for some people, well, it just depends. The nature of the change determines how they feel about it.   Change is a part of life, and you cannot avoid it. You can bury your head in the sand and try to ignore change, but change is all around us. Think about it: our lives and our surroundings change all the time.  Our bodies change, our relationships change, and sometimes our opinions ...

The South Georgia Annual Conference is now accepting nominations for The Harry Denman Evangelism Award for Clergy, Lay, and Youth. The Harry Denman Evangelism Award program recognizes United Methodists in each annual conference whose exceptional ministry of evangelism – expressed in Word (what), Sign (why), and Deed (how) – brings people into a life-transforming relationship with Jesus Christ. Evangelism happens in many contexts and many settings; impacts and engages all generations; and ...

Resources for UMCOR Sunday  UMCOR Sunday is March 19. Gifts offered on this churchwide Special Sunday underwrite UMCOR’s administrative costs, freeing up 100% of Advance donations for people in need. Downloadable resources available online.   Podcast episode looks at new anti-racism series In an episode of "Expanding the Table," the United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race's podcast on anti-racism, staff members discuss the agency's newest resource series, "What Is?" The series looks at ...

By Rev. Danita Poston Knowles   The Oxford dictionary defines witness as one who sees and gives evidence of personal experience or observation. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are all witnesses. We each have a story to share with others about the Messiah, who Jesus is as our Lord and Savior. We testify of Jesus’ loving sacrifice to forgive our sins and give us victorious life and eternal life in the heavenly Kingdom to come.   The goals of your Conference witness team are three-fold: ...

Throughout 2023, four book studies centered on prayer and hosted by Connectional Ministries, will expand our minds, challenge our hearts, and encourage our prayer walks.  Connectional Ministries is excited to kick off the Book Talk Series with the Rev. Dr. Ted Goshorn’s book, “Prayer Changes Us.” Participants will read the book and then gather on Zoom February 27 to chat about what they learned and received from the book. This first book talk, featuring the author of the book, is set for Monday,...

29 ways you can participate in Black History Month  Black History Month is an opportunity for all of us to celebrate and reflect upon the remarkable contributions African Americans have made to American history. No matter who we are or what our background is, Black history is a part of our history. Through its R2 Hub, The General Commission on Religion and Race has provided 29 unique ways to participate in Black History Month and make a difference in your community. Learn more   Find 2023 Lenten...

Click here to view and print the February 7 issue of the South Georgia Advocate. This is a link to a printable PDF file that contains all of the news and stories from the February 7 South Georgia Advocate. This file may be printed and given to those in your congregation who might not have access to a computer, printer, or the Internet. (Length: 24 pages)

On Thursday, January 12, 2023, severe storms and multiple tornadoes stretched across the Alabama-West Florida and North Georgia Conferences. The South Georgia Conference stands in solidarity with our neighboring conferences, offering prayer and support.    At the request of the North Georgia Conference, the South Georgia Conference has been asked to assist and coordinate the UMC response in Meriwether County. Rev. Glenn Martin, Northwest District Disaster Response coordinator, is taking the lead...

Click here to view and print the January 24 issue of the South Georgia Advocate. This is a link to a printable PDF file that contains all of the news and stories from the January 24 South Georgia Advocate. This file may be printed and given to those in your congregation who might not have access to a computer, printer, or the Internet. (Length: 19 pages)

A series of training videos designed for local church leaders is available on the conference website. Laity who are stepping into new roles or who are continuing to serve in key leadership positions can take advantage of these video resources. In the videos, leaders will receive tools, training, and encouragement that will equip and empower them as they begin the year in their roles.  In 2022, Bishop Graves recorded a new Staff Parish Relations Committee (SPRC) video. In it, he expresses ...

Leadership Training Videos Available for Local Church Leaders A series of training videos for local church leaders is available on the conference website. Laity who are stepping into new roles or who are continuing to serve in key leadership positions can take advantage of these video resources. In the videos, leaders will receive tools, training, and encouragement that will equip and empower them as they begin the year in their roles. Click here to find the videos, resources documents, and to ...

Click here to view and print the January 10 issue of the South Georgia Advocate. This is a link to a printable PDF file that contains all of the news and stories from the January 10 South Georgia Advocate. This file may be printed and given to those in your congregation who might not have access to a computer, printer, or the Internet. (Length: 20 pages)

When people pray, God listens.   In a focused effort, the South Georgia Conference is centering itself around prayer in the coming year.   “While it seems so obvious that prayer is the center of our work, sometimes we need to make intentional efforts,” said Bishop David Graves, episcopal leader of the South Georgia Conference. “It is easy to get sidetracked by the business and agenda items of our meetings. We add more to our plates, we find ourselves in a cycle of busy-ness, and we stay in ...

Certified Lay Ministry (CLM) continues to be a source of celebration and energy in the South Georgia Annual Conference. Through the Office of Connectional Ministries, 8 individuals recently completed the CLM class held at Vineville UMC in Macon under the instruction of Rev. Dorsia Atkinson and a variety of other experienced teachers. These eight individuals will go on to complete their assignments and move forward to be officially approved by their District Committee on Ministry (DCOM) for ...

Now hiring college students for summer staff at Camp Connect! Do you know of a college student who loves Jesus and desires a summer of ministry in a beautiful location? As a camp counselor, college students will be able to minister to hundreds of youth and children throughout the summer, while making Christian friendships with other staff that last a lifetime.  As a paid position, the Leadership Team will commit to nine weeks of service which will include serving at high school, middle school, ...

Click here to view and print the December 20 issue of the South Georgia Advocate. This is a link to a printable PDF file that contains all of the news and stories from the December 20 South Georgia Advocate. This file may be printed and given to those in your congregation who might not have access to a computer, printer, or the Internet. (Length: 31 pages)

Registration opens up January 1st for Camp Connect - the South Georgia Conference Camping Ministry at Epworth By The Sea. These week long residential camps are offered for elementary, middle and high school students in June and July. For more information, click here.

Scott's Chapel United Methodist Church is the 2022 South Georgia recipient of the Renfro Trust Grant.  The Renfro Trust awards grants for the purpose of establishing and supporting United Methodist churches in rural areas of the United States within the Southeastern Jurisdiction. Grant applications are considered for projects involving new or existing church buildings. Located in Blackshear, Ga., Scott's Chapel UMC recently held their 160th celebration of ministry in November of 2022. The church...

2023 Worship Planning Calendar This resource is the full music and worship planning calendar for each Sunday in 2023, as well as special days and times throughout the year. Designed to help pastors, worship leaders, Sunday School teachers, and more. Download today Advent resources to help you create community connection Invite your community to worship with you this Advent with the help of customizable outreach resources! Choose from banners, signs, postcards, invitation cards, posters and ...

The 2022 Journal of the South Georgia Annual Conference is now available for purchase. Those wishing to purchase a Conference Journal will order their copy(ies) online directly from the printer. The cost of the Journal is $26 each plus tax and shipping. (Promo code WELCOME15 will give you a 15% discount at this time).  “I am appreciative of the time and effort that our new Journal Editor, Rev. Dr. Ted Goshorn, put into this year’s publication,” said Meredyth Earnest, Conference Secretary. “The ...

Click here to view and print the December 6 issue of the South Georgia Advocate. This is a link to a printable PDF file that contains all of the news and stories from the December 6 South Georgia Advocate. This file may be printed and given to those in your congregation who might not have access to a computer, printer, or the Internet. (Length: 22 pages)

By Rev. Daniel Medina   The Walk to Emmaus of the Heart of Georgia community was celebrated in Spanish October 27 – 30, 2002. During this year’s retreat people came from various states, including North Carolina, Florida, Massachusetts, Georgia, and the Dominican Republic to serve as volunteers or to participate for the first time as participants, also known as ‘pilgrims.’ There were 27 new pilgrims – all women this year – and 54 servant leaders participating in this event.   The Walk to Emmaus ...

By Laura Buchanan, United Methodist Communications Remember God’s past provisions, let go of expectations, and find new ways God is working today     Neighboring has changed. Technology has transformed our daily living. Relationship building must overcome screen time. As societal norms shift, each generation has a moment of realization: “Things just aren’t what they used to be.” “It’s funny how we glorify things in the past and we tend to dread things in the future, the unknown,” says Anne ...

The Commission on the General Conference announced that the 2024 United Methodist General Conference will be held April 23 – May 3, 2024, at Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.  “The Commission selected Charlotte as the site that best met our varied needs. We believe that delegates and attendees will be pleased with all the city has to offer,” said Kim Simpson, Chair of the Commission on the General Conference. “Charlotte is a part of the Western North Carolina Annual ...

Click here to view and print the November 15 issue of the South Georgia Advocate. This is a link to a printable PDF file that contains all of the news and stories from the November 15 South Georgia Advocate. This file may be printed and given to those in your congregation who might not have access to a computer, printer, or the Internet. (Length: 31 pages)

By Anne Bosarge   Have you ever thought about the process involved in doing something new? We often have the desire to do something new, but in practice the “new” thing we want to do ends up looking a lot like the old thing we did last time. And that old thing often didn’t have the impact we wanted it to have in the first place. In a world where innovation and creativity in the church is necessary, how do we change our actions and become truly innovative? We renew our minds.     Scripture has a ...

With significant local effort, the construction of Lupandilo United Methodist Church is still in progress. The North Katanga Annual Conference expresses their gratitude to the South Georgia Annual Conference for supporting this ministry through the purchase of bags of cement powder. The construction of this new sanctuary is led by Rev. Odette Makonga Kyakutala, a female clergy in the North Katanga Conference. 

As you begin preparations for the Advent and Christmas seasons, consider the following resources for new ideas.    Nurture:  An Advent Songs of Ascents - 2022 worship series from Discipleship Ministries Advent Candle Lighting Liturgy Cokesbury Advent Studies/Resources Advent study comparison chart from Cokesbury to help you decide what Advent study to use with your church or small group this year.  Ways to Celebrate Advent with Kids Youth Lessons “An Advent Song of Ascents” Advent Prayer ...

Click here to view and print the November 1 issue of the South Georgia Advocate. This is a link to a printable PDF file that contains all of the news and stories from the November 1 South Georgia Advocate. This file may be printed and given to those in your congregation who might not have access to a computer, printer, or the Internet. (Length: 24 pages)

By Anne Bosarge   The average American sees 4,000 to 10,000 ads daily. Let that sink in. You might argue with that or even think it’s not true because, while you see all those ads, you don’t notice all the ads. You only notice less than 100 ads a day. What is the difference in seeing and noticing? It’s the same as the difference between hearing and listening. Think about how many words a student hears in one day. And then think of how many words they actual listen to.    The difference in seeing...

Making Clergy Mental Health a Priority South Georgia Conference Mental Health Task Force Grief and Loss   By Rev. Grace Guyton I experienced my first major loss my sophomore year of high school at the age of 16. After battling cancer for several years, my grandfather finally succumbed to the disease that touches so many of us. It was hard to watch him decline over the years. He was a vibrant man who filled his retirement from ministry with wood working, traveling, volunteering, and more ...

By Daniel Medina   Will you join us in prayer? After three years of being canceled because of the pandemic, the Walk to Emmaus in Spanish is now only two weeks away - October 29-30.    The Walk to Emmaus is a program of the Upper Room and The United Methodist Church. It is an experience of Christian spiritual revitalization and development that starts with a short course in Christianity during a weekend. It is an opportunity to meet Jesus Christ in a new way as God’s grace and love is revealed ...

By Anne Bosarge Do you remember how it used to be? Do you remember times in the life of your church when you opened the doors and people would flood through? Do you remember when everyone in your circle of friends went to church multiple times a week? Do you remember when church attendance was the priority in a family’s life?  I think we can all agree: it’s not what it used to be. Things sure have changed.     But what I’ve discovered is that God does His best work on the heels of big sweeping ...

Small-group studies available for anti-racism podcast The United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race has released small-group study guides for each episode in the first season of “Expanding the Table,” the agency’s award-winning podcast on practicing anti-racism. Additionally, the agency has added full transcripts for each episode to aid in accessibility. View resource   Tell your story Telling your story as a church can be a vastly underestimated necessity. Telling this story well can ...

Click here to view and print the October 4 issue of the South Georgia Advocate. This is a link to a printable PDF file that contains all of the news and stories from the October 4 South Georgia Advocate. This file may be printed and given to those in your congregation who might not have access to a computer, printer, or the Internet. (Length: 21 pages)

By Allison Lindsey, Nurture Team Chair   During the 2022 Annual Conference Session, conference members approved the following two items related to Safe Sanctuaries:  1.     Every local church will revisit and update (as necessary) their Safe Sanctuaries policy by Dec. 31, 2023 2.     Changes to the conference Safe Sanctuaries Policy were made to reflect updated practices   As you know, Safe Sanctuaries is the name commonly given by local United Methodist Annual Conferences and local churches to...

During three weeks in September, Bishop David Graves will travel across the South Georgia Conference to meet with clergy and laity in various settings. The purpose of these gatherings is to provide necessary and accurate information around current denominational matters. While the three Sunday district gatherings are geared toward laity, all are welcome to attend. The Sunday gathering dates are as follows: Sept. 11: District Gathering for the North Central & Northwest Districts at Perry UMC ...

Click here to view and print the Sept. 6 issue of the South Georgia Advocate. This is a link to a printable PDF file that contains all of the news and stories from the Sept. 6 South Georgia Advocate. This file may be printed and given to those in your congregation who might not have access to a computer, printer, or the Internet. (Length: 22 pages)

A Word from the Bishop   It has been one full year since I was assigned as the bishop of the South Georgia Annual Conference. As I began my tenure here in South Georgia, I watched the trial for those convicted of killing Ahmaud Arbery unfold. The video, the story surrounding Ahmaud’s murder, and the trial captured not just my attention but the nation’s attention.    As eyes were focused on Brunswick, Georgia one thing I am certain of amidst all of the heartache: the nation saw a faith community ...

Click here to view and print the Aug. 16 issue of the South Georgia Advocate. This is a link to a printable PDF file that contains all of the news and stories from the Aug. 2 South Georgia Advocate. This file may be printed and given to those in your congregation who might not have access to a computer, printer, or the Internet. (Length: 17 pages)

Registration is now open for KidzQuest, the Conference's annual fall children’s retreat for students in third through sixth grades, and Encounter, the Conference's annual youth retreat for students in sixth through twelfth grades.   KidzQuest is scheduled for September 23-25 2022, at Epworth By The Sea on St. Simons Island for 3rd-6th grade students. More information & registration   Encounter Youth Retreat, for 6th-12th grade students, will take place November 18-20, 2022, at Epworth By The Sea...

Connectional Ministries is accepting applications for the Southeastern Jurisdiction Renfro Trust Grant. This grant is a brick and mortar grant specifically for small, rural churches. Guidelines, requirements, and applications can be found here. Completed applications must be submitted to Kelly Roberson (kelly@sgaumc.com) by our conference deadline: Monday, August 22, 2022. (Note: application will say August 1.)