5/6/2011
The Optimist Club of Perdido Bay named the Rev. Jody Kranz of Gulf Shores United Methodist Church “Citizen of the Year.” Gulf Shores Chief Edward Delmore said that, as chaplain, Kranz is “available and has helped assist officers with families in crisis, grief counseling, and with advice in difficult situations.” To read the full article, click here.
4/29/2011
While we share the great sadness and disappointment of the most recent tornados that destroyed our state, we would like to ask the churches to take a special offering on Sunday, May 8, to help with the response to the communities that need our help. Parts of our own conference, and much of the North Alabama Conference, received significant damage. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Amelia Fletcher, our conference disaster response coordinator, for organizing work teams and working ...
3/14/2011
Dear Friends: I want to pass along information I received from the General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM) in regards to the response concerning the earthquake/tsunami in Japan. This information was made available to the Council of Bishops and Leaders and Members of the United Methodist Asian American Community. GBGM expresses its sincere appreciation for the many messages of concern sent to them and continues to ask for prayers for the families of so many in the country of Japan. GBGM is in ...
3/1/2011
February 19th was a beautiful spring-like Saturday in the Fitzpatrick, AL area. But the beauty wasn’t just in the weather. Emily and Jay Moore, 5- and 6-year-old brother and sister, decided the glory of the day would honor God. They setup a lemonade stand and sold it to the thirsty community enjoying unusually warm weather. The $21.50 they raised on that perfect day was lovingly placed into a sandwich bag and presented the next day in church in front of the Fitzpatrick United Methodist ...
2/16/2011
Students spend ‘Dawg’ Dollars in the Rewards Store at F.S. Ervin Elementary By Linda McGraw Dailey “The ‘Rewards Store’ is an incentive program to help children learn that if they work hard in school it will carry them through life. This program is teaching life long values in the lives of these children at F.S. Ervin Elementary School,” said Rev. Dawn Bond. Students at F.S. Ervin Elementary School, grades Pre-K4 through sixth grade have the opportunity to earn ‘Dawg Dollars’, a monetary system...
2/15/2011
The first Sunday in February was a banner day in the Heiberger (Perry County) UMC. This congregation of 70 was poised for what has become an event that is too rare—baptizing a baby. By the time the service ended they had received 6 new members. There was one adult profession of faith and baptism—the father of the infant. There was one youth baptism and profession of faith—the infant’s brother. And then, there were four transfers, one of whom was the infant’s mother. The proud pastor, Rev. ...
2/15/2011
How do you evangelize a community? One answer is the Centreville UMC model of inviting children, making them honored guests and teaching them. Rev. Greg Nobles has done just that. He has gathered 5 children (upper elementary) into a confirmation class that meets weekly. The children are asked as a part of the class to bring a notebook to worship and record what happens so they can talk about it in the next class. Now comes the hospitality: When the youngsters get to a point in the service ...
11/8/2010
The purpose of FUSED was to show our young people that each of the local youth groups are a part of bigger and broader church movement.
10/27/2010
Pensacola FUMC develops a new "Intro to First Church" booklet
10/27/2010
Small, but strong! The Toxey United Methodist Church is four (yes, 4) members strong and engaged in mission in their small Choctaw County (Ala.) town. On Wednesdays at noon they host a soup lunch for as many as 24 people from the community. There is always a bowl passed throughout the crowd to receive spare change. The change, however, is not used to pay for the meal....the church does that. The change is used to fund local mission work. Last year, they raised and distributed $350 to those ...