Vol. 4 • No. 19 
July 1, 2005
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GOD BLESS AMERICA!
This Fourth of July weekend, may we think of the men and women who are defending our freedom as members of the United States military. May we honor and remember these brave men and women, and their families, for their service and sacrifice and may we continue to keep them in our prayers.
JULY 4, 2005

South Georgia Church featured by UMNS and UMTV.org
Brunswick First United Methodist Church is not only being featured by United Methodist News Service (see story below) on UMC.org, the official online ministry of the United Methodist Church, but they are also featured on UMTV.org. UMTV.org is a communication medium for news producers, directors and assignment editors all over the U.S. to have access to United Methodist stories. If a station is interested in airing this material they are sent a dub of each story. There's no telling who is watching "Building with Baseball!" Click here to view the video.

Church makes pitches for Jesus with baseball training center
(UMNS) The cracks of baseball bats echo through the metal building as the boys of summer practice for the next big game.

But the building would have been nothing more than a pile of rubble if members of First United Methodist Church had not stepped up to the plate.  Instead of razing the building, church members decided to start a ministry that would teach baseball and character—and, they hoped, attract new worshippers.

“I think it was a great idea to build this place for people and children,” says Paxton Shuman, an 11-year-old player and member of the church. “Baseball is a fun sport to me—one of the best ones that I'm good at.”

Using donated funds and materials, members turned an abandoned auto-repair garage next door to the church into an indoor training center for youth baseball. The slogan for the ministry is “Making the Pitch for Christ." More>>

Youth Harambee Set for July 22-24
African American youth will come together July 22-24 at Epworth By The Sea to "keep it real for Jesus." South Georgia 's Black Church Summit Youth HARAMBEE will focus on spiritual formation, fellowship and strengthening the connection between African American Youth across the conference. Three Challenge Sessions will be held throughout the weekend: KEEPING IT REAL: “Spirit Filled Homies”, GOAL TENDING: “It's a ‘male' thang!”, and R-E-S-P-E-C-T: “Earn it, Ladies.” Participants will crack up with Christian Comic “Bone”, jam with “Charles and Taylor”, and sp lash and play at Summer Waves. Registration is $100 per person and includes 2 nights in cabin, meals, admission to Summer Waves and 2 concerts. Click here to register online. Click here to download a Harambee packet (which includes a schedule, registration form, and covenant agreement). For more information, contact Rev. Vicki Scott at 912-564-2138 or Rev. Patricia Baggs at 478-272-8932.

School of Mission Just Around the Corner
The Annual School of Christian Mission will be held Friday, July 15th through Sunday, July 17th at Epworth By The Sea. Meeting under the theme “Cornerstones of Hope”, this event provides United Methodist Women with opportunities to prepare for leadership in the India/Pakistan mission study and classes for spiritual growth.  Volunteers in Mission is offering a basic training class for mission teams.  New this year will be an advanced course for Lay Speakers: "Lay Speakers Lead in Mission Outreach ".  Click here to download the Mission Education Event brochure. Click here to download the Lay Speaker registration. This event is a cooperative study and mission training event of the United Methodist Women, Volunteers in Mission and the Conference Outreach and Advocacy Teams.

Pastors' School Brochure now available online
Meeting under the theme "Impact of Change on the Church," the 2005 Pastors' School will meet July 25-28 at Epworth By The Sea. Dr. Teresa Fry Brown, Associate Professor of Homiletics at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University, will be the preacher for the event. The two lecturers are Dr. Rick Gray, Associate Professor of Leadership and Christian Ministry at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky, and Dr. Lovett Weems, Distinguished Professor of Church Leadership and the Director of the Lewis Center for Church Leadership at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington DC .  The music leader will be Robert McMichael, Minister of Music, Worship and the Arts at Central Ministries United Methodist Church.  Download brochure and registration form here. Room reservations can be made online now at www.epworthbythesea.org.

Last Minute Registrations Being Accepted for Youth Leadership Academy
There's still time to get an application in to this summer's Youth Leadership Academy, July 8-10, 2005, at
Epworth By The Sea. The purpose of the Youth Leadership Academy is to call forth and train the younger generation of lay leadership for service in the Church. All youth interested in developing leadership skills, being equipped for service, and desiring a time of spiritual formation will enjoy this weekend. This academy is designed for those entering 10th grade to entering college freshman. Counselors are provided, and the cost is free! Click here for an application. Don't wait any longer, get your application in today.

Partners in Mission needed for European delegates to attend Leadership Conference on Evangelism
An exciting opportunity has opened up for South Georgia United Methodists to partner with the World Methodist Evangelism Institute to help send European delegates to a Leadership Conference on Evangelism. A number of European delegates from post-Soviet countries, developing nations, and new churches in Europe have asked for further funding in order to attend the major Europe Leadership Conference on Evangelism in England August 16-24, 2005.

Churches or Sunday School classes are needed to become PARTNERS IN MISSION by helping to fund some of these delegates (in whole or in part).  This could become the start of a connecting relationship between a congregation and a European Methodist/Wesleyan pastor and/or Methodist/Wesleyan congregation in a developing nation, or a new church start in Europe.  For more information click here or contact Rev. Brenda Iglehart Eddings at 888-266-7642 or brenda@sgaumc.com.

Fleming to speak at LaGrange College
Dear South Georgia Friends,
In my Georgia retirement, I am pleased to be the Bishop in Residence at nearby LaGrange College. In July, I invite you to watch your mail for a brochure from me inviting you to an exciting conference on our campus September 12-14 with Dr. James Fleming, noted archaeologist and teacher. His theme will be “Understanding the Biblical Issues in the Current Middle East Conflict.”

This seminar offers a wonderful opportunity to bring greater clarity in our preaching and teaching around issues involving Iraq, Palestinian/Israeli relations, and terrorism. The July brochure will give you the details. Please feel free to contact me at medwards@lagrange.edu.

The goal of the program, called "Ubuntu eXplorers," is to enable U.S. women to understand and share together the daily life, struggles, culture, challenges and opportunities of women from one of the countries. During the one- to two-week trips, members of United Methodist Women also will get a firsthand look at the programs and projects supported by their annual giving of about $20 million.