News

8/17/2014

By Ansley Brackin Communications Specialist for The North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church Rev. Mark Nugent of Marietta’s St. Paul UMC wanted to find a way to grow the church and increase their involvement with the community. He found his answer in soccer. During the repaving of the church parking lot, Nugent said to trustees that he wanted the church to do “something big” to create better relationships with the people of Marietta; so in addition to a new parking lot, trees ...

7/26/2014

By Ansley Brackin Communications Specialist for The North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church This year East Point First Mallalieu UMC partnered with Jefferson Recreation Center to support the Lady Bulldogs’ softball season. On Saturday July 26th, the United Methodist Women of East Point hosted a banquet to honor the hard work of the young girls. Churches often find themselves appealing to a certain age group. Over time, other generations pull away in search of a new connection. ...

7/24/2014

On Tuesday, July 22, family, friends, trustees, and staff members gathered at the United Methodist Children’s Home in front of the newly named Gillespie Education Center to honor Rev. Bob Gillespie.  The Children’s Home staff was shocked and delighted when an anonymous donor pledged a gift of $100,000 dollars in honor of Gillespie, a father of three adopted sons and daughters. At the celebration, CEO Bob Bruder-Mattson, Bishop Mike Watson, and Bob Gillespie himself, spoke before the new sign ...

7/21/2014

In anticipation of the Youth 2015 national gathering in Orlando, Fla, Young People’s Ministries is launching special weekend visits across 10 US cities. The first stop is Atlanta on Sept. 13, 2014. The visit is themed “Go On Tour” and centers around John Wesley's concept of "going on to perfection", placing emphasis on the acts of piety and mercy. Youth groups will have an unparalleled opportunity to visit Atlanta and put these concepts into practice.   The Agenda Groups may arrive in Atlanta ...

7/17/2014

Youth and young adults from across the United Methodist connection, including five from the North Georgia Conference, were safely sheltering in place in Tagaytay, Philippines, during Typhoon Rammasun, locally known as Glenda.   "We are safe and okay. Praise be to God!," wrote Rev. Carolyn Poling, youth pastor at Impact UMC who is attending with two youth from her church. "There is a lot to do here for clean up so please keep the Phillippines in your prayers as well as the rest of our ...

7/14/2014

Incorporating child-focused worship practices can help build a solid foundation for the faith formation of your youngest congregants.   By Rachel Reiff Ellis Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.” (Mk 10:14b NRSV) But when it comes to the children among us, churches can—and should—do more than just get out of the way.   Delia Halverson, internationally known author and Christian educator, has spent over 25...

7/11/2014

By Jonathan Brown    I am just returning from a meaningful mission trip with Zoar UMC's youth group to the UMCOR Depot in Decatur, Ala. Zoar UMC has long been a mission focused church. When I joined with them in ministry as youth director, the youth and church leaders had a strong desire to develop a mission-centered youth group. The expectation was to have a youth mission trip for the summer of 2015. One of our church leaders, Terry Raymond, presented us with an opportunity to get our young ...

7/2/2014

Last week The United Methodist Children’s Home baptized four of its youth and remembered the baptism of another. Many youth that come into the program have seen their families tear apart. Being surrounded by mentors and those in similar situations provides a sense of togetherness that they may have lost at some point in time. The chapel was filled to maximum capacity once the entire support staff piled in to celebrate the new life of those who will soon leave the program and face a new world. ...

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 ...

6/5/2014

GO ON Tour, a worship concert featuring Christian hip-hop artist Tedashii and speakers from next year’s national United Methodist youth event YOUTH 2015, will visit each of the church’s U.S. jurisdictions this fall. The 10-city tour, which begins Sept. 13 at Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, will afford youth an opportunity to experience event-style worship, hear a national level performer and featured speaker and be among the first groups able to register for YOUTH 2015, an event for ...

6/4/2014

Volunteer Opportunities Now Available with Program that Provides  Healthy Meals to Children of Georgia During Summer Months    Leaders of Action Ministries have announced that they have officially kicked off the third year of Smart Lunch, Smart Kid, the organization’s child nutrition and educational enrichment opportunity program. Created to help the thousands of Georgia children at risk of hunger, the program that will start on June 2nd gives children in communities all across the state access ...

5/29/2014

By Rev. John Moeller   Hunger is not a problem most of us closely associate with the United States, judged around the world as the “land of plenty.” Few of us know what it’s like to put children to bed hungry or undernourished, and few know the feelings of defeat and hopelessness that come with being unable to provide all of our children’s basic needs. But many of our north Georgia neighbors do know! Hunger is a battle they fight daily.  The impact of hunger, especially on children, is serious...

5/23/2014

By Ansley Brackin  Communication Specialist for The North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church Crossroads UMC’s pastor Rev. Zack and wife Rev. Leigh Martin have been flocked by their Oasis Youth Group! Ryan Young’s youth group from Conyers needed a way to raise money for their mission trip. Naturally, they found the answer in plastic flamingos. For the past six weeks, congregants have been paying $25 to “flock” each other’s houses. Others paid for “flock insurance” to prevent ...

4/4/2014

North Georgia's United Methodist Children's Home CEO, Bob Bruder-Mattson, has been named by Governor Nathan Deal to the Georgia Child Welfare Reform Council. Bruder-Mattson will serve alongside other advocates and leaders to improve the state's child welfare system and better protect Georgia’s most vulnerable citizens.   “It’s an honor and a privilege to serve on this Council and I look forward to what we will accomplish for the benefit of our children, youth and families throughout Georgia," ...

1/3/2014

The United Methodist Connectional Federal Credit Union (UMC FCU) is now accepting applications for the 2014 UMC FCU Scholarship. In an effort to include the UMC's many graduate students, the credit union has expanded the age eligibility to ages 17-35. The application must be received in UMC FCU offices by April 30, 2014. The UMC FCU will award four $1,000 scholarships again this year. One winning applicant will be chosen from each of the credit union's four conferences: North Georgia, ...

10/16/2013

The congregation at Bethesda UMC in Lawrenceville recently dedicated a Little Free Library on the church lawn.  The Little Free Library movement is an international effort to invite communities to build a “take a book, return a book” box that can become a gathering place for neighbors to share their favorite literature and stories. In other words, a Little Free Library is a box full of books where anyone may stop by and pick up a book (or two) and bring back another book to share. Church ...

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 ...

9/6/2013

By Ansley Brackin Communications Specialist for North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church Small churches have a lot of good qualities. The congregations are often family-like with an “everybody knows everybody” atmosphere. However, the lack of youth in small churches can pose a problem, so constant that a collection of small United Methodist churches in Smyrna are working together to solve this common issue within their community. Rev. Larisa Parker of Faith UMC became inspired ...

8/13/2013

Saturday, August 10, the North Georgia Conference United Methodist Men teamed up with the Gwinnett Braves to present United Methodist Family Night with the G-Braves. They invited United Methodist Children's Home residents, some of whom had never been to a baseball game, to the game and arranged for their tickets.  They also arranged for UMCH youth Saiquan - a huge baseball fan - to have the honor of throwing out the first pitch! Saiquan was excited and nervous and said that would be a moment ...

7/31/2013

By Ansley Brackin Communications Specialist at the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church The first day of school is just around the corner. However, many United Methodist Churches have kept it in mind all summer long. All over Georgia churches have been collecting back packs for those in need, and the number of bags collected is astounding! Clarkston UMC is close to their pledge of 30 backpacks for the students of Clarkston. The church pairs up with the Clarkston Police ...