5/12/2021
It’s hard to believe that this is my last blog as your District Superintendent. Where has the time gone? It seems like it was just yesterday that we had my installation service at Conyers First UMC. It’s been a pleasure serving alongside you for the past four years. You have taught me so much about church leadership and ministry. I’ve enjoyed hearing how God uses you to engage with your community as you imagine new ways to connect people with Jesus. You continue to amaze me with your ...
5/5/2021
The months of June and July in the church are milestones and transitional months. In June, we will experience several transitions throughout the district. The shifts in June are clergy being commissioned and ordained at Annual Conference. The moves in July are clergy appointments. Commissioning to Provisional Elder Tayler Johnson Whitney Johnson Genetha Rice-Singleton Ordination to Full-Connection Elder Dondra Davis Agnes Harvey Clergy Leaving Central South Susan Allen ...
4/21/2021
Do you remember the TV animated show, The Transformers? It was a cartoon series that debuted in 1984 and put together all of a teenaged boy’s great loves: planes, cars, and robots. You learn the plot of the show from the theme song. If you remember it, sing along with me: “The Transformers! More than meets the eye! Autobots wage their battle to destroy the evil forces of the Decepticons! The Transformers! Robots in disguise! The Transformers! More than meets the eye! The Transformers!” As...
3/31/2021
Easter is Special Being the Church during a pandemic has been frustrating, challenging, and full of anxiety. I recall that last year, Easter for many of us was not the same. Last year, most of our churches had to scrap their Easter plans due to the pandemic. We were disappointed that the church year’s biggest day, which proclaimed God’s ultimate Good News, felt more like a hollow victory. We all walked through the events of Holy Week with a different attitude and understanding. I wrote ...
3/17/2021
I ran track in high school. I ran the third leg on the 4X100 relay team. I never thought that I was fast, though I clocked at 4.6 seconds in the 40-yard dash. Looking back, I’m convinced that I gained my speed running from my neighbor’s German Shepherd named King. King didn’t like me and chased me every morning and evening, getting on and off the school bus. I admit, I was nowhere near Bo Jackson (4.16) or Usain Bolt level (4.22), but I was the second-fastest on the team behind Mike, ...
3/3/2021
Four years ago, I got my first pair of glasses. Until then, I had 20/20 vision. As a child, I ate many carrots to avoid having to wear glasses like Mama and my brother. I wanted to wear Foster Grant sunglasses, but the bespectacled look wasn’t for me. But things changed for me when one day while sitting in a meeting with the Bishop and other District Superintendents, we were looking at a presentation on two 90-inch TVs mounted on the wall. For the first time, the images on the large screen ...
2/3/2021
Does it feel like pandemic living is a never-ending loop of loss and uncertainty? Lately, I’ve felt like Shari Lewis’ puppet character Charley Horse from Lamb Chops TV Show is lurking around singing: “This is the song that doesn’t end, yes, it goes on and, on my friend.” Ok, so I admit that it isn’t fair to compare the pandemic experience to Shari Lewis trying to quiet puppets singing an obnoxious song. But it sure does feel like we’re living in a tiresome loop (Social Distance Day 326) that ...
1/6/2021
To see video message from Quincy click here. Today is the Epiphany of the Lord. It’s the day that we celebrate the Wise Men arriving with gifts to worship Jesus. It also marks the end of the twelve days of Christmas and the traditional day people take down Christmas decorations. The word “epiphany” comes from the Greek word that means appearance or manifestation. In biblical times, Israel’s religious culture hindered them from accepting God’s incarnation in Jesus. Additionally, the religious...
12/9/2020
Merry Christmas It's beginning to look (or at least feel) a lot like Christmas. Are you ready? Here's my preparation list: __ Send out Christmas Cards __ Watch Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer __ Listen to The Temptations' Silent Night and Nat "King" Cole's Christmas Song __ Get our niece's Gracelyn's 18th birthday gift (she was born on Christmas Day) __ Get Dionne's gift I'm ready as I'll ever be, knowing that we will not be traveling this Christmas for our families. I've heard from many ...
11/25/2020
Thanksgiving 2020 Thanksgiving will be different this year. Like many of you, my family has struggled with how to do Thanksgiving together. The lingering question is: Will we forgo the extended family and do a single household face-to-face gathering, or will we do ZOOM-to-ZOOM with our entire family? We’ve decided on a ZOOM-to-ZOOM Thanksgiving. I know that it’s not ideal, but nothing has been during this pandemic season. With the fatigue of the pandemic, I admit that I’m emotionally ...