News

6/16/2021

This incredible team of Christian servant leaders is facilitating 9 weeks of safe, faith-forming fun for campers at Glisson, ELI, and Grow!  Camp is back in session! Since 1925, our camping ministries in the North Georgia Conference have existed to support local congregations in fulfilling their baptismal covenant to "surround these children with a community of love and forgiveness, that they may grow in their trust of God, and be found faithful in their service to others." Summer 2020 was the...

9/13/2018

The North Georgia Conference is thrilled to share the groundbreaking date for preserving and expanding the Glisson Chapel. You're invited Sunday, Sept. 16, to a service celebrating the history and future of the chapel. Russell Davis, Executive Director of North Georgia Camp and Retreat Ministries, shares information in the letter below: Dear friend of camp & retreat ministries, Many of you will recall the announcement last February of our largest-ever single donation, which was given by a ...

2/28/2018

Camp and Retreat ministries shared an exciting announcement this week. Glisson has received the largest gift in the camp's history to go toward the needed expansion of the beloved Glisson Chapel. Here's a letter from Russell Davis, Executive Director of North Georgia Camp and Retreat Ministries, with the news.   Dear friends of camp & retreat ministries, It is my joy and honor to share with you that Glisson has received an incredibly generous gift – $1.5 million – to fund the expansion of our ...

3/24/2016

ELI equips Christian leaders who lead differently because they see the world differently In his New York Times best-seller Leaders Eat Last, Simon Sinek asks where leaders come from. Not just any leaders, but leaders who sacrifice for the good of the group - who lead by serving others rather than self-promotion.  Whether intentional or incidental, Sinek preaches ideas about servant leadership that are in-step with Christ's example for the Church. Jesus is the ultimate servant leader, the ...

12/31/2015

In 2015, North Georgia's Camp and Retreat Ministries built its biggest ministry facility to date, expanded its lodging facilities to offer the most bed space ever, hosted more Grow Day Camp sites than any summer before, and served the most campers in all five North Georgia Camp & Retreat Ministries programs (Village, Outpost, Sparrowwood, ELI, and Grow) ... ever! God did such glorious work this year through Camp and Retreat Ministries that the organization decided to put it on paper (and ...

11/18/2015

At its November meeting, the Conference Board of Trustees approved plans to establish The Wesley Fund through the North Georgia Conference Camp and Retreat Ministries.   The Wesley Fund will go toward financial assistance for children and youth who would otherwise not be able to attend North Georgia Conference Summer Camps. This assistance - called “Camperships” - is also available to those whose families are experiencing short-term financial difficulties.    Made possible by the former Board of...

10/20/2015

Fun Fact:  I love backpacking and hiking. What services does your position offer to local Churches? I’m responsible for the camp and retreat ministries in The North Georgia Conference. This includes Glisson Camp and Retreat Center, and our emerging ministries, Grow and Experiential Leadership Institute. Our task is partnering with churches to nurture faith and discipleship, and to develop Christian servant leaders. We offer summer and year-round programming and also host retreats year-round. ...

10/12/2015

When you give to your local United Methodist Church, much of the gift stays with that church to cover mission, ministry and expenses, but a small percent from your church is put together with gifts from other United Methodist churches in our Conference (and around the world) to fund in-part our work together as a Conference and as a denomination. We call that apportioned giving.  Over the next few months we'll be featuring some of the ministries that are thriving thanks to apportionment giving!...

9/16/2015

By Ansley Brackin Communications Specialist The first North Georgia Conference Children’s Retreat, Walk In It, was held at Glisson Camp and Retreat Center, September 11-13th, 2015. The camp welcomed over 350 children, 3rd-6th grade, and leaders to Dahlonega for a weekend of listening, seeking, and walking with God. Friday began with worship where the campers were joined by North Georgia’s Coordinator of Vocational Discernment, Rev. Tonya Lawrence. She assured the children and their leaders that...

3/19/2015

ELI helps 11-12th graders discover strengths, practice leadership, explore calling...   ELI End-Of-Summer Celebration Video 2014 From Glisson's Thursday Mail Call: What if instead of saying youth are the future of the Church, we realized they're a key part of its present? What if we gave high schoolers a chance to discover their natural strengths, learn leadership theories, practice leadership skills, and explore their calling? And what if that chance could be two parts: a ...

10/16/2014

Glisson Camp and Retreat Center shared the following email announcement today. Congratulations, Glisson! You did it! Congratulations, Glisson Family: We Did It! If you have made a pledge, given a gift, told a friend, told a stranger, recruited your church, or recruited your friend's church ...boy, have we got good news for you: WE DID IT! If there's a member of the extended Glisson family within shoutin' distance, give them a holler! Better yet, a high five! Sing a round of "My Friend" ...

6/9/2014

(Photo of Young Adult Coffee House attendees by Rev. Joseph McBrayer) Monday, June 9, members of the North Georgia Conference of The United Methodist Church began once again to converge at the Classic Center in Athens for its Annual Conference Session. Many of the expected 2,000 attendees took advantage of afternoon registration and attended pre-conference meals and meetings, including the Deacon's Dinner, Covenant Bible Study leader training, and the annual Young Adult Coffee House.  "I pray ...

10/16/2013

Imagine pulling into the local United Methodist church in your neck of the woods (or city).   As you turn into your typical parking spot, something catches your eye. Either that’s the biggest squirrel you’ve ever seen or there’s a kid 25 feet up in that tree! Further scanning reveals a helmet, a harness, a rope, and a team of belayers below shouting up words of encouragement. Just then something soars in and out of your peripheral vision and “Whap!” You turn to look down that ever-empty ...

8/12/2013

Camp ministry programs served 2,860 children and youth in 2013 After nine incredible weeks, we are celebrating another summer full of campfires, creek hikes, and zip lines ... of swimming, kayaking, and climbing ... of singing together, learning new skills, and growing closer to God and one another.   We're excited to share that our 89th summer was our best-attended season on record! North Georgia Camp & Retreat Ministries served 2,860 children and youth between Grow Day Camps, the Experiential...

8/12/2013

With $700,000 by Sept. 13th the dining hall can be ready for Summer 2015 "He said that the minister (Theologan in Residence) changed his life. He mentioned his great counselor, but I was happily surprised to hear him tell me about the minister. He said, 'I was able to understand her and now I know why God made me.'"  - 2013 parent    Life-changing experiences like these have been going on at Glisson for generations. As we turn the page toward our 90th summer, we're staring down a crossroads for ...

4/4/2013

Josh Lindamood began a 2,200 mile journey this week, hiking the Appalachian trail as a roving United Methodist chaplain. His journey began at Springer Mountain in Georgia and will finish six months from now at Mount Katahdin in Maine. By Annette Spence Twenty-six year old Josh Lindamood begins a 2,200 mile journey April 4, hiking the Appalachian trail as a roving United Methodist chaplain. His journey begins at Springer Mountain in Georgia and will finish six months from now at Mount Katahdin ...

3/4/2013

Meet Hannah Pressey. After participating in Camping and Retreat Ministries' ELI program in 2011, Hannah played a large role in rejuvenating her church's children's ministry.   "Her enthusiasm and skill from what she brought back from Glisson lit a fire under many adults who had grown weary and discouraged. ... Now the children's ministry program is not short on help, funds, or children," said Hannah's mother, Ann, about her daughters experience.  The Experiential Leadership Institute Program is ...

2/16/2013

By GLENN HANNIGAN       It is a matter of simple math. If you are going to feed the multitudes, you need a place for multitudes to sit. Of course, for the increasing throngs which convene regularly at Camp Glisson, there is no physical way to serve all the guests at the same time in the outdated and overwhelmed dining hall. Meals are often served in shifts.       What else can you do when you have 400 guests and a dining hall with a capacity of 170?       “We pack in as many people as the fire ...

11/30/2012

For 88 straight summers United Methodist churches and families have been sending their children and youth to Glisson for summer camp. The reason? Christian camping contributes uniquely to the development of the whole child: helping campers grow spiritually, learn new skills, develop social skills, increase self-confidence, experience Christian community, and develop leadership.  Summer camp registration for UMC members begins December 1st. Provide the children and youth in your life with a ...

10/10/2012

“Practice makes perfect”... and yet when teaching critical life lessons to youth and young adults about faith and leadership, we often forget that the classroom isn’t where most of us learned how to follow Jesus or be a leader. Whether as campers or staff campers, camp offers an experiential setting where we can try out what we’ve learned. Conference Camp & Retreat Ministries offers a range of leadership opportunities for rising 11th graders through college seniors. These experiences comprise ...