2/16/2011

What started on Thanksgiving Day, 2003, with just a handful of people has grown into a ministry that serves more than 300 people each week. Every Thursday afternoon, volunteers with Richmond Hill United Methodist Church’s Food for the Soul ministry deliver more than 300 hot meals to needy Richmond Hill residents.  Similar to the well-known “Meals on Wheels” program, Food for the Soul provides a hot meal to anyone who requests one – no questions asked. Begun as a traditional soup kitchen, ...

2/16/2011

As a connectional church, the United Methodist Church is one without borders, an interlocking system of worldwide churches bound together with a common mission – to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. During a recent trip to Uganda, five individuals from the South Georgia Annual Conference helped strengthen that connection between their conference and the East Africa Annual (regional) Conference. Revs. Christy Bandy, Earl James, Doreen Smalls, Denise Walton and ...

2/15/2011

When United Methodists start electing clergy delegates this spring to the denomination's top legislative meeting, several new groups will be elegibile to vote for those representatives. The new categories of electors for the 2012 General Conference were clarified by the denomination’s Judicial Council in a special called session Feb. 12. The nine-member council serves as the church’s “supreme court.”  The new categories — related to elections conducted by the denomination’s annual (regional) ...

2/14/2011

The Rev. Robert R. Fletcher has been elected president/CEO of the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation (UMHEF) by the board of trustees after receiving enthusiastic recommendations from the presidential search committee and the executive committee.  Bishop Mike Watson of the North Georgia Conference will make this appointment effective June 2011. “Bob’s faith and commitment to the Church and higher education will serve UMHEF well,” stated Glenn C. Andrew, chair of the board of trustees....

2/14/2011

The 2012 meeting of the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference will be held Wednesday, July 18 through Friday, July 20, 2012, at Lake Junaluska, N.C. This announcement reflects a recent decision made by the 2012 Program Committee and Local Arrangements Committee that condenses the conference by one day.   “A recent adjustment by the Council of Bishops afforded us an opportunity to eliminate a day in our traditional schedule,” said Dr. Brad Brady, Jurisdictional Conference Secretary.  “The ...

2/10/2011

Submitted by Mr. Terry Toole, member of Colquitt UMC At a time when it seems we might need to watch out for ourselves in these uncertain days, there is a happening in the small, rural town of Colquitt that is setting the example for others to follow. It not only serves local people, it reaches over into other counties to help people. The program is the CUMC Food Bank under the direction of Allen and Alice Cobb, volunteers from the church.  If you ride by the Colquitt United Methodist Church on ...

2/7/2011

The South Georgia Conference will elect its delegation to the 2012 General and Jurisdictional Conferences during the 2011 Annual Conference Session in Tifton, June 5-9. The General Conference is the global gathering of The United Methodist Church where mission and ministry priorities are established and The Book of Discipline is reviewed for possible revisions. The General Conference is the policy setting body of United Methodism. The 2012 General Conference will be held April 24-May 4, 2012, in...

2/1/2011

Dr. Edwin Chase’s ministry has taken many forms over the years:  preacher, counselor, chaplain, columnist and now, author. Dr. Chase’s recently released book, “God’s Relentless Love,” combines insight, inspiration and humor gleaned from his more than 35 years of practice as a minister and pastoral counselor.  Having served at Americus’ Morningside United Methodist Church and Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church in Savannah, Dr. Chase realized his calling into ministry while working as a ...

1/31/2011

Bishop Marion Edwards, retired as a United Methodist bishop and pastor, died early Monday morning, January 24, at Columbus Hospice House. His most recent pulpit was at St. Luke United Methodist Church, where he served from 1988-1996. He was bishop of the North Carolina Conference, based in Raleigh, from 1996-2004. He was 71. “Bishop Marion Edwards was a banner-carrier for God – a man who was deeply loved by his family, St. Luke Church, the South Georgia Annual Conference, the Raleigh episcopal ...

1/27/2011

St. Luke UMC will make the funeral of Bishop Marion Edwards available on their website for live video streaming.  Please go to their website at www.stlukeum.com and click on the “Listen Live to Bishop Edwards’ Service” link.  The funeral will be Saturday, January 29 at 11:00 a.m.   Dear Clergypersons of the South Georgia Conference and the North Carolina Conference: For the funeral of Bishop Marion Edwards, the clergy will wear black robes and white stoles. They will meet and change in the Shaw...

1/24/2011

Retired United Methodist Bishop Marion Edwards, 71, who led the denomination’s North Carolina Annual (regional) Conference for eight years, died Jan. 24 at Columbus (Ga.) Hospice House after a battle with cancer. He was remembered as an ardent supporter of mission work by those who knew him. “Bishop Edwards brought a passion for mission, and he led the denomination’s campaign for the establishment of a seminary in Russia,” said Bishop Alfred Wesley Gwinn Jr., current leader of the North Carolina...

1/21/2011

God’s plan for Stacey Harwell came as a surprise to her. “If you would have told me at the beginning of my time in college that I was going to be ordained in the Methodist Church, I would have laughed at you!” said the Rev. Harwell, 25, a deacon at Centenary United Methodist Church in Macon, Georgia. Harwell’s call into ministry didn’t lead to a pulpit but rather to a ministry that has “one foot in the world and one foot in the church.” “My calling to be a deacon in The United Methodist Church ...

1/21/2011

I hope you have been reading the South Georgia Advocate over the last year.  Many things impress me about the tremendous product, but one overwhelming impression from reading last year’s editions is how our local churches and conference ministries are faithfully and creatively engaged in justice ministries.     Justice ministries encompass everything that intentionally expresses God’s love and mercy to a broken world.  For many of us, we have thought of these ministries as “missions,” “...

1/21/2011

Just as God multiplied loaves and fish to feed 5,000, He multiplied tractor trailers full of food to feed 1,500. In early December, Rev. Jimmy Towson, Forest Hills United Methodist Church’s pastor, shared with his congregation his vision for the church’s annual Christmas project: to raise money to give away enough food to fill one tractor trailer.  Church members responded and were generous in their giving, donating $24,000 in just two weeks.  In total, more than $28,000 was donated for the ...

1/13/2011

The Office of Connectional Ministries has launched a new section on the conference website that highlights the justice ministries flowing out of South Georgia’s congregations and ministries.  This is part of our 2011 emphasis called Do Justice.  “As Bishop King has so eloquently reminded us in his teaching and preaching, a holistic view of discipleship includes engaging in justice ministries,” said Rev. Doreen Smalls, Associate Director of Connectional Ministries and Conference Global Missions ...

1/13/2011

United Methodist individuals or organizations interested in sending petitions to the 2012 General Conference for consideration should take note. The General Conference, which meets every four years and is made up of delegates from United Methodist Annual and Central Conferences throughout the world, is the only body that may officially speak for the United Methodist Church.  The decisions General Conference makes help create The United Methodist Book of Discipline, the book of rules and ...

1/12/2011

Two weekend-long Confirmation Retreats are scheduled for 2011, the first from March 4-6 and the second from March 18-20.      Designed for students in the sixth grade and above, the “Join the Journey” Confirmation Retreats will provide churches of all sizes an opportunity to connect with others through worship, study, and fellowship.  They will also include large group gatherings around the church seasons and breakout sessions with topics of grace, United Methodist History and United Methodist ...

1/10/2011

To commemorate the one-year anniversary of the earthquake in Haiti that occurred Jan. 12, 2010, The United Methodist Church is reminding people that much work remains to be done in Haiti and there are ways they can help. An advertising campaign running now through January 23 includes television ads on CNN and Fox News Channel, online advertising, text messaging, and outdoor billboards in selected cities. The ads invite viewers to go to RethinkChurch.org to find out how to get involved. In ...

1/7/2011

Hello, Beautiful People of South Georgia. As we take those first steps into a new year we do so hopefully, with a sense of gratitude and great expectations. Some are grateful for the gift of life and hopeful that life will be more because unfulfilled dreams are realized. I would not be surprised that for many, the first days of a new year are met with a sigh of relief simply because one has survived another year. On the other hand, there are those who are so excited about the promises that the ...

1/3/2011

There’s an old quote that says, “Give a man a fish, and he will eat for a day.  Teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime.” They’re not feeding or fishing, but the women of Allentown United Methodist Church’s Agape Stitchers are living out the proverb in their own way. Since August 2003, this group of women in their 60s to late 90s has sewn more than 5,700 girl’s dresses, almost 3,000 boy’s shorts/shirt outfits, and 600 baby blankets, all of which have been sent to needy children around...

1/3/2011

In his ongoing effort to focus on disciple making and growing a Christlike world, South Georgia area resident Bishop James R. King, Jr. invites individuals and groups to join him at the inaugural Disciple Covenant Conference. Scheduled for February 11-12 at the Macon Centreplex, the Disciple Covenant Conference will be a time of developing and sharpening discipleship efforts.   “Our hope and prayer is that people will be moved to come and attend the Disciple Covenant Conference so that they can ...

1/3/2011

In Kenya, where inconsistent rains and prolonged droughts are causing severe water shortages, wells dug by Unto the Least of His ministries and its partners are helping families overcome poverty, disease and death. LifeSpring United Methodist Church and the Statesboro District are partnering with Unto the Least of His ministries to help change the future for 3,000 to 5,000 people in northern Kenya’s Samburu region.  In doing so, they are also honoring the life of beloved pastor and former ...

12/15/2010

The Advent season, once a time to celebrate the birth of our Savior, has, to many, become a season of stress, shopping and spending. Six churches in the Brunswick area are conspiring to change that, vowing to celebrate Advent differently this year.  Their “Advent Celebration” is a local version of the international Advent Conspiracy movement, which has more than 1,000 churches in 17 countries participating as “co-conspirators” in justice projects around the world. Brunswick First, College Place,...

12/15/2010

Harvest Church, a United Methodist congregation in Byron and one of the fastest-growing Protestant churches in the United States, has recently added a second campus and fifth weekend worship service. Located at the Houston Lakes Stadium Cinemas in Kathleen, about four miles away from Harvest Church’s main campus, the new Kathleen location is a throwback to Harvest’s early days – before moving to their current location on Highway 41 in Byron, Harvest Church met for five years in the Galleria ...

12/1/2010

Blessed be the tie that binds, but blessed also are the “chains” that connect one person to another. Nearly every Tuesday afternoon, a small group of women gather at Morgan's Chapel United Methodist Church in Townsend.  For about three hours, the ladies knit, crochet, fellowship and create chains of love. The chain stitch, the foundation for all crochet stitches, is the beginning stitch in almost every crochet pattern.  They are used over and over again as the women lovingly crochet and knit ...

12/1/2010

  For less than the cost of a cup of premium coffee, a child won’t have to go through the weekend hungry. Many families in South Georgia and across the United States rely on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Free and Reduced Lunch program to feed their children breakfast and lunch during the school week. But what happens on the weekends? Some children, not having eaten enough food during the weekend, show up hungry at school Monday morning. Through their Brian Bowen’s Snax Sax program, Perry ...

11/22/2010

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, we pause to give thanks.  Throughout the year, we are focusing on diving into the scriptures and “sowing the word” in our hearts and lives.  We brought the two ideas together and asked United Methodists around the Conference the question, “What scripture helps you best express your gratitude to God?” Here are their delightful and insightful responses. May they help us all take a moment to reflect on those things for which we are most thankful. Rev. M. ...

11/22/2010

In times of trouble, death, turmoil and even during elections, the church has been the place where people gather and to which they turn when in need. And now in Montgomery County, when people need food they again turn to the church. Nepsey-Warren United Methodist Church has partnered with America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia to provide food for needy area residents.  Since January 2010, Nepsey-Warren UMC and America’s Second Harvest’s Mobile Food Pantry have sorted, bagged and distributed...

11/18/2010

Maybe there is such thing as a free lunch. Every Tuesday at noon, a diverse crowd gathers inside Darien United Methodist Church’s fellowship hall, which has been transformed for the day into “Charlie’s Place.”  The crowd varies, but often includes a mom with her four homeschooled children, an elderly woman, a McIntosh County judge, a local magistrate officer, a young couple and an Episcopal priest.  They’ve all come to Charlie’s Place for the same thing – good food and fellowship. Begun on ...

11/12/2010

The Association of Professional Chaplains (APC), a national organization of professional chaplaincy care providers, has named the Reverend David C. Johnson DMin BCC president. Rev. Johnson begins his two-year term on November 1 as president of the association, which has over 4,000 members and is the chief multifaith certifying body of the chaplaincy profession. “APC is a growing and vibrant organization that is moving into a leadership role within the spiritual care field,” says Johnson. “Our ...

11/9/2010

Dogs and cats and bearded dragons, oh my! On Saturday, October 16, Mulberry Street United Methodist Church in Macon held a Blessing of the Animals service for church and community members and their pets.  While most of the 60 or so attendees brought their dog or cat – about 30 pets in all – one young girl brought her pet lizard, a bearded dragon.  A first for the church, the service was an opportunity for the community to bring their pets to receive a special blessing in accordance with the Oct....

11/9/2010

The secretary of the General Conference, Rev. L. Fitzgerald Reist, announced Friday that the number of delegates for the 2012 General Conference will be near the 1,000-delegate limit.  "Although a variety of opinions have been expressed, I've heard strong pleas to retain similar numbers as before, and I believe any significant reduction in the number of delegates should occur in concert with a more comprehensive look at the whole process,” said Rev. Reist. “It’s essential that we not undermine ...

11/8/2010

Nearly 300 women from around the South Georgia Annual Conference gathered together for the 38th annual meeting of the South Georgia United Methodist Women. Meeting under the theme, “Let’s Get Together,” on Saturday, October 16, UMW from across the conference celebrated 141 years of mission and ministry at Dublin’s Pine Forest United Methodist Church. “What do we want to be next?  What do we want people to say about United Methodist Women by 2020?” asked keynote speaker Harriett Olson, deputy ...

11/7/2010

LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. — Dr. John “Jack” L. Ewing, Jr. has been named the new Executive Director of Lake Junaluska Assembly Inc.  Dr. Ewing will begin his new duties on January 1st, 2011, and fills a position that is being vacated by the retirement of Rev. Jimmy L. Carr.  Ewing currently serves as the Executive Director of the Foundation for Evangelism, which is also based at Lake Junaluska, NC.  “The entire Board of Directors is excited about the future and believes that Jack brings a passion for...

11/4/2010

Regional United Methodist officials, questioning how much authority a key church executive should have in setting the number of delegates to the denomination’s lawmaking body, may have to wait and see. The Judicial Council at its fall meeting ruled it had “no jurisdiction” to act on a request from the South Carolina Annual (regional) Conference inquiring about the General Conference secretary’s authority to adjust the number of delegates participating in the legislative gathering. The General ...

11/4/2010

 On August 8, members of St. Luke United Methodist Church in Savannah arrived at church wearing shoes, but left barefoot. They weren’t the victims of a Sunday morning shoe-snatching spree, but willingly went barefoot after leaving their shoes at the altar during the church’s Barefoot Sunday service. The special day of worship was part of St. Luke UMC’s effort to support Soles4Souls, a Nashville, Tenn.-based charity that collects and distributes shoes to people in need.  Since 2005, Soles4Souls ...

11/2/2010

Panama City, Panama:  In the presidential address to the Council of Bishops in Panama City, Panama today, Bishop Larry M. Goodpaster challenged the bishops of The United Methodist Church to “lean into God’s future” by turning the focus of attention to what is about to happen rather than what has always been. “We have the opportunity to lead the church toward greater vitality, impact and influence in the world,” said Bishop Goodpaster. “By our decisions and actions this week in Panama, we will ...

11/2/2010

As part of its investment strategy, the South Georgia Annual Conference Trustees recently purchased eight, 4-year certificates from the Georgia United Methodist Foundation Development Fund. “We chose to invest in the Foundation because of the ways these monies are invested back in our local churches,” said Dr. Rick Lanford, chair of the South Georgia Annual Conference Trustees Investment committee. “We also respect the leadership and the integrity of the Foundation’s staff.” Since September, ...

10/15/2010

Survivors of domestic violence should not have to choose between their faith and being safe. Such a dilemma can occur, says the Rev. Aleese Moore-Orbih, if they are told by their churches to stay “in a situation where it is possible for them to lose their lives.” Moore-Orbih, a United Church of Christ pastor, is director of training and consulting for FaithTrust Institute, an organization working to end sexual and domestic violence. During the Oct. 8-11 meeting of the Women’s Division, United ...

10/8/2010

Claudia and Eduardo Maia, missionaries in Chicuque, Mozambique, could have mailed a report documenting their work for the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries. Instead, they used the Internet calling service Skype, which allowed them to share their work in Mozambique via video with those who had gathered for the board’s annual meeting last year. Board members heard stories of Claudia’s work in the community, promoting public health initiatives like HIV prevention, while actually seeing ...