News

8/25/2021

For more than 40 years Afghanistan has been wracked by war, civil strife, invasion, and massive amounts of arms shipped in from outside forces. Millions of Afghans have been displaced as refugees over these many years. It is one of the poorest countries in the world, with high infant and maternal mortality rates. Today the country is again at a point of transition with great uncertainty about the future. Thousands of Afghans are seeking to flee violence and a fear of persecution. Roland ...

4/29/2021

Photo by Larry Garrard. Members of Alpharetta First UMC's Early Response Team pray with a homeowner in Newnan.  By Sybil Davidson MAY 13 UPDATE Last month North Georgia United Methodists gave nearly $52,000 to Disaster Response efforts to support Newnan Area tornado recovery. This is in addition to dozens of trained UMCOR Early Response Teams who served over the past 6 weeks, and an emergency grant awarded from UMCOR just one day after the storm.  As the long-term recovery phase begins in ...

3/26/2021

Major storms crossed the Southeast last week including a tornado causing significant damage in the Newnan area. There are reports of wind damage and localized flooding in other parts of the conference. Our neighbors in Alabama also saw storm damage and multiple fatalities. The North Georgia Conference is coordinating with UMCOR, Early Response Teams, and with Coweta County Emergency Management. Response work is underway. Read on for updates:  UPDATE: March 31 In addition to the trained ERT ...

10/8/2020

While Hurricane Sally is off the minds of many of us here in North Georgia, communities along the Gulf coast are still in the early phases of recovery. The North Georgia Conference has sent several trained ERT teams and would like to send many more. Our Conference Disaster Response Coordinator, Rev. Scott Parrish, headed to the Alabama-West Florida Conference to check in on our neighbors and learn more about how we can help! Follow along with Scott:   Downed Trees and Debris Piles Once I got ...

9/16/2020

Less than one month after the Gulf Coast was struck by Hurricane Laura, all eyes turned this week to Hurricane Sally. Conference leaders have been in contact with counterparts in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi and South Georgia as heavy rains and winds from the slow-moving storm may have wide-ranging impact. Many areas of the Florida Panhandle and coastal Alabama remain without power and are in the early stages of assessment.   "With Hurricane Laura, Hurricane Sally, and the current devastating ...

4/13/2020

Updated April 14 As we continue to learn about damage from the devastating storms across Georgia and the southeast on Easter night, local news outlets are reporting that at least seven people died in our area. Search and recovery efforts are still underway.  Photos from the Chattanooga Times Free Press show the devastation in North Murray County in the Northwest District: https://www.timesfreepress.com/galleries/albums/8856/#images-1   We have received reports of home damage and damage to ...

12/5/2019

Your church is invited to send a team to join the North Georgia Conference #SheetrockArmy to provide help and hope to neighbors across the southeast. There is an overwhelming need for Disaster Response teams and we in North Georgia are perfectly positioned to help. We were among the first to get there after hurricanes struck and we've promised to be among the last to leave. Here are some of the nearby needs and how a team from your church can connect and serve: Alabama-West Florida Conference  ...

9/12/2019

September 1, the Abaco Islands and Grand Bahama Island experienced “unprecedented devastation" as a category 5 hurricane stalled over the northern islands of the Bahamas. But even before Hurricane Dorian had run its course, UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) was connecting with Methodists in the Bahamas to start relief efforts.  The North Georgia Annual Conference has strong ties to our neighbors in the Bahamas, and many churches have already begun collecting special offerings to ...

9/5/2019

Updated September 10 As rescue and recovery efforts begin following Hurricane Dorian, our prayers are with all impacted by the storm and with our neighbors in the Bahamas. UMCOR (United Methodist Committee On Relief) has awarded a solidarity grant to Bahamas Methodist Habitat, the Disaster Ministry of the Bahamas Conference of the Methodist Church. Bishop Theophilus Rolle, president of the Bahamas, Turks & Caicos Islands Conference of the Methodist Church, said that the hurricane's force has ...

3/19/2019

There was heartbreaking news of devastation after severe storms and tornadoes swept through Alabama and into parts of Georgia on March 3. "I am praying for the families of those who lost their lives in Alabama, and for these dealing with wreckage in Alabama and South Georgia," said Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson. "Prayers also for the first responders and those helping directly, including Rev. Robin Wilson, pastor at First UMC, Opelika, Rev. Jeff Wilson, Opelika District Superintendent, and North ...

1/14/2019

North Georgia Conference churches send youth, adult, and intergenerational teams on international mission trips every year. The good work of the teams (and within the teams) is multiplied when our United Methodist best practices are in place. Adequate insurance, following Safe Sanctuaries policies, and taking other planning and protection into account mean that best-case scenarios are even better and worst-case scenarios aren't a crisis. United Methodist Volunteers in Mission is our partner in...

11/1/2018

By SYBIL DAVIDSON With thousands of neighbors across the southeast recovering from fall hurricanes, Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson and the North Georgia Conference Cabinet set a day aside to serve at the Conference Disaster Response Warehouse at Impact UMC. (See photos from the work day here.) The warehouse facility is used for receiving UMCOR Relief Kits, verifying the contents of the completed kits, then shipping them to where they are most needed when they are needed. Impact offers the space to...

10/22/2018

"I rejoice that the people of North Georgia are so generous and so willing and able to help in any kind of catastrophe."  —Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson​   As we partner with our neighbors in South Georgia recovering from Hurricane Michael, Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson encourages North Georgia Conference churches to collect a special offering. Watch Video Message from Bishop Sue. North Georgia Conference Fund #3743 has been established specifically for our support of the South Georgia Conference ...

10/18/2018

Photo: Mount Pisgah UMC ERT Team member at work in South Georgia. (sgaumc.org) The Southwest District of the South Georgia Conference bore the brunt of Hurricane Michael’s wrath in our state as the storm slammed into the area October 11 as a Category 3 hurricane. Michael brought 115 mph winds and downed trees and power lines. Homes, churches, and businesses were damaged and destroyed. Cotton, peanut, and pecan crops, which were not yet fully harvested, were decimated. But through it all, many...

10/17/2018

Photo: A note of thanks on a napkin arrived in place of the bill after dinner for an ERT team from Mount Pisgah UMC serving in New Bern, NC. North Georgia Conference Early Response Teams (ERTs) were among the first on the ground in North Carolina and South Carolina following Hurricane Florence. They have already begun working side by side with neighbors in Southwest Georgia. And they are standing by to serve along the Florida Panhandle when they are needed. Thanks to our connectional system, ...

10/10/2018

Hurricane Michael is most powerful storm to hit the US in decades. There is devastation across parts of the Florida panhandle and Southwest Georgia. As we wait for assessments and emergency responders to do their work, North Georgia United Methodists are encouraged to pray, give generously, assemble Cleaning Buckets, and begin planning mission trips.  Our Response Our best first responses are prayer and giving. Mark gifts for NGUMC Fund #4390 for US Disaster Response. The Conference is also ...

10/9/2018

(Johns Creek UMC members assemble UMCOR Cleaning Buckets. Photo: Ansley Brackin) Hurricane Michael made landfall Wednesday as the most powerful storm to hit the US in decades. As we wait for assessments and emergency responders to do their work, there is a need for UMCOR Relief Supplies. The North Georgia Conference is collecting assembled Cleaning Buckets. Find instructions at www.umcor.org/UMCOR/Relief-Supplies. Completed buckets may be delivered to the Conference Disaster Response ...

10/4/2018

Updated Oct 5 North Georgia United Methodists have a three part response plan as we respond to our neighbors who suffered damage from Hurricane Florence: Give, Train, Go. ERT Teams Needed The North Carolina and South Carolina Conferences have issued an invitation for ERT from North Georgia to help respond to hurricane damage. Only the ERT Team Leader should call or email the North or South Carolina Conferences as they will be the only point of contact. To Respond in North Carolina ...

9/12/2018

As Hurricane Florence makes landfall in the Carolinas, the North Georgia Conference stands ready to help.  The Conference has set Fund Number 9431 for Hurricane Florence Relief. Any North Georgia United Methodist can give directly to their church, designating their gift for Fund #9431 or Hurricane Florence Relief. Churches should send gifts to the North Georgia Conference, indicating the above fund number. If your church or church property is damaged, make two phone calls: Church Trustees ...

3/7/2018

Hundreds of North Georgia United Methodists have gotten certified as UMCOR Emergency Response Team members this winter. For those with new ERT badges and others who'd like to serve their neighbors, there is great need. We checked in with Rev. Scott Parrish, Conference Disaster Response Coordinator to find out "what next"? While there's not any early stage response, there are plenty of opportunities to help others, to get experience as a team, and to help with later stage Disaster Response. ...