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It Worked For Us
This should become a resource library of best practices in the local church. Share what worked for you so others can benefit.
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Local Church Communications
This forum is for sharing resources, ideas and best practices around communications in local churches.
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Youth Ministry Ideas
Share the best practices in your youth ministry.
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Recent comments on pages throughout the site

Goodpaster's to be Honored with Farewell Reception on August 10

Amy Hall wrote on 7/22/2008 5:19:27 PM

I am a new Methodist as well. I Bapines District mission coordinator for social action and communications coordinator. I have enjoyed the conference e-mails from you. I have not met you yet. I will be at Blue Lake this week for school of mission. I hope to see you there. I have always heard great comments about you. I am very proud to serve under a Bishop with your leadership and passion. Blessings to you and your family as you go through this new open door in ministry.

Goodpaster's to be Honored with Farewell Reception on August 10

Debbie Bush, 2004-2008 UMW Pensacola District President wrote on 7/22/2008 10:00:32 AM

Dear Bishop Goodpator, I will truely miss you in being in our Conference in the years to come! Your leadership and commitment to the United Methodist Church and to United Methodist Women has been an inspiration to all that know you! Thank you for your eight years and may God continue to Bless you and Deborah in your new Conference. In Him, Debbie Bush

Meet Our Bishop: Paul L. Leeland

Debbie Bush, 2008 UMW District President wrote on 7/22/2008 9:50:12 AM

We welcome Bishop Leeland with open arms and open hearts to our Conference! May God Bless Bishop Leeland and his family during his transition period. We will truely miss Bishop Goodpastor but know that the Lord has other plans for him and his wife, Deborah. God Bless!

Southeast United Methodist bishops get assignments

Dr. Steve Furr, AWF Conference Lay Leader wrote on 7/21/2008 10:33:08 AM

I believe Paul Leeland will continue the Alabama West Florida Conference history of strong Episcopal leadership that partners with the laity to reach people for Jesus Christ. He is a Paul who not only plants but also has the ability to water so that God can cause the growth to the seeds previously planted by his predecessors. I was struck by the fact that he has been on the Emmaus Leadership Team as well as teaching Disciple Bible Study in the local church for 17 consecutive years. I know that I, along with the other laity, are excited about serving with him not only to increase our conference’s numerical growth but also as we seek for each of us to grow into the fullness of our Lord and Savior. For those of us who had the opportunity to meet with him at Jurisdictional Conference, we want to convey to each of you our sense of his sincerity, openness and genuineness. He's the real deal. He won't ask any more of us than what he is willing to do himself. But be careful, because I think he's willing to sacrifice to do a lot for the cause of Christ.

Paul Leeland elected a bishop of The United Methodist Church

Eleanor & Bruce Petteway wrote on 7/20/2008 5:40:14 PM

Congratulations! We knew that you would make it to the top. You are so deserving. Those of us at Westminster are praying for you and so proud that one of our favorite pastors has become BISHOP. We expect you to revoluctionize the Methodist hierachy so that the average member in a local church will have some influence on important decisions. Our love and best wishes to you, Janet and your children. Eleanor and Bruce

Goodpaster's to be Honored with Farewell Reception on August 10

Melissa Murphy wrote on 7/20/2008 11:02:38 AM

Dear Bishop Goodpastor, My name is Melissa Murphy and I am a "new" Methodist. I feel fortunate though to have been at Annual Conference this year and blessed by the sermon you gave. There are many memorable things you said but one thing has stayed in the forfront of my mind. Not only what you said but the way you said it. "Be Bold". I felt alive again in my soul. I hate to see you go. Know that we will miss you. I wish I had been around for more of your ministry. God Bless you Bishop Goodpastor in all your future ministries. Melissa Murphy Irvington United Methodist

Southeast United Methodist bishops get assignments

Lane Rees wrote on 7/19/2008 12:45:37 PM

Pat, Thanks very much for sharing your comments and support for our new Bishop and this helpful to learn more from someone who has known him. Our prayers are with him as he becomes our new Bishop! Lane

Southeast United Methodist bishops get assignments

Pat Luna wrote on 7/18/2008 11:41:29 PM

I am thrilled to learn that Dr. Paul Leeland will be our new Bishop. I have been praying that Dr. Leeland would be elected and called to serve at our conference but I never really allowed myself to believe it might happen. God is good! I have known Bishop Leeland for over six years. He is a kind, visionary, Christ-centered man who is an inspiration to be around. We are so blessed to have him as our Bishop! Over the years I have worked in North Carolina, serving churches throughout the NC Conference and in all of those years I have never heard anything but wonderful things about him and his ability to get things done in a unifying and loving way. Bishop Leeland, will take our conference to the next level and I am committed to doing all I can to help him. Today is a great day for the AWF Conference! Pat Luna Chair, Board of Discipleship AWF Conference

Youth

Laura Williams wrote on 7/5/2008 9:46:24 PM

I'm pretty sure I'm the last person ever to hear of this but, there is a FREE concert in Verbena, AL on August 23rd! It has 8 bands including Barlow Girl as well as Thalon. Tony Nolan is the speaker and it is described as the "Woodstock of Christian Music." Here is the link if anyone is interested: http://www.enfuegoinfo.com/v2/schedule.php Have a blessed day! Laura

Serving the Present Age: Mobile Inner City Mission

Meredyth Earnest wrote on 6/27/2008 12:49:01 PM

Leigh Ann, I'm glad to pass along your note to the MIM director...however, i need your contact information. Please email me by clicking on my name. thanks.

Serving the Present Age: Mobile Inner City Mission

Leigh Anne Hawthorne wrote on 6/24/2008 3:32:31 PM

I am bringing a youth mission team next week to Mobile and would like for them to help serve a meal. We are available Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday evenings (June 29, 30, July 1, 3)

The Early History of the Alabama-West Florida Conference

Vera Moore wrote on 5/15/2008 9:57:39 AM

Many thanks for publishing this valuable information.

Bishop Goodpaster's Book List

bart stewart wrote on 5/13/2008 9:09:31 PM

I love your list. Any updates in the works. Gongradulations on the 2010 Council chair election. Grace and Peace from the TN Conf. bart

Wrap-up: General Conference acts on wide range of issues

martha rovira- AWF director-coordinator of Hispanic-Latino Ministries wrote on 5/8/2008 10:42:34 AM

It was thanks to the wonderful and lively coverage that Meredyth Earnest did of General Conference that I could avidly and vividly follow the development day by day from wherever I landed after my day's work. Meredyth's video clips, interviews with the delegates and our dear Bishop Goodpaster and so many others made a difference in the communications world. She gives merit to her last name, she did an "earnest" job for the Kingdom of GOD. Thank you, Meredyth from all of us who could not make it to GC, but who were eager to know what was transpiring in our denomination and what was voted upon for the next quuadrennia. God bless you for your talents! martha

Wrap-up: General Conference acts on wide range of issues

Rev. Dr. G. Charles Satterwhite, pastor wrote on 5/7/2008 11:14:45 AM

I was very excited to read direct reports, and streaming from General Conference. I especially enjoyed the interviews from the delegates, and Bishop Goodpaster. Under the theme "A Future with Hope--Making Disciples for Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World," the Conference commenced. The agenda seemed to run smoothly—with great results. I am proud of the hard work and prayers that were lifted up through the intercessory work of the Holy Spirit from our Alabama West Florida Conference. As William Carey stated, "God's Wok, done in God's Way, will not lack God's Provision."

2008 Annual Conference

Sam Persons Parkes wrote on 4/30/2008 1:10:03 PM

Will childcare be available for worship services and plenary sessions as last year? It sure was great for both Amy and me to be able to attend the sessions!

Youth

Laura Williams wrote on 4/29/2008 2:39:14 PM

Hi everyone! I just accepted a youth ministry summer internship at Bonifay UMC. I am super excited to see what God is going to do with this youth program! I am a recent graduate of elementary education however and am not familiar with middle school practices. If anyone has any ideas, encouragement, thoughts, or really anything to offer to me I would greatly appreciate it! All I really know about the group at this time is that they are middle school aged and there is about 12-17 regular members. Thank you so much!! Laura

Bishops elect Goodpaster as president-designate

Karl K. Stegall wrote on 4/23/2008 9:48:34 AM

Congratulations to our own Bishop Larry Goodpaster. Our global church will greatly benefit from his leadership.

General Conference 2008

Suzanne Lenoir wrote on 4/2/2008 3:33:51 PM

It is a great privilege and honor for the praise band from First United Methodist, Clanton, AL, Montgomery-Prattville district, to be participating in the worship at General Conference. The band consists of worship leader, Tommy Lenoir, drummer/manager, Mike Graham, guitarist, Derric Hopper, guitarist, Trent Tatum, bass player, Michael Bailey, keyboards, Whittley Rasberry. Please keep this group and the praise team singers in your prayers as they prepare to minister to our UMC leaders from across the world!

Annual Conference to Focus on Leader Development

Wesley Comer wrote on 3/31/2008

Prayerfully and sincerely I hope that the teaching of leadership and church development will not concentrate on "money, money, money", a prosperity gospel like religion and I also hope that in church building there will not be a concentration on numbers, numbers, numbers but rather are we reaching the unchurched, are we reaching and serving the poor and underserved areas of our community. It seems to me that too many in the UMC are caring increasingly about money and about appearances and about numbers without concentrating on the true words of Jesus. In this bleak time of war, recession, and terrible leadership in Washington the Church Universal should take a leading role in society by not worring about the facade of a church facility but about the people who are being served in that facility; the Church Universal should take a leading role in caring for the poor and the underserved in manifest ways that are not meant to bring glory to an individual congregation or pastor but Glory to God. The Church Universal and it's pastors should be taking a leading role in teaching and living sacrificially and without the trappings of wealth such a huge home, luxury car, etc. Remember, Jesus sent out the apostles without extra clothing, food, or a set place to live!! In prayerful respect, Wesley F. Comer

Bonner, Woodham Named as New District Superintendents

Gary Daniel wrote on 3/27/2008 11:32:42 AM

Congratulations John and Randy. I know you will do a great job as DS, as you have everywhere you have served. God bless.

Bishop Goodpaster Named Bishop of Southeast Asia Mission

Nelson Crandall wrote on 3/2/2008 3:19:13 PM

I served one year of my 3 yr U.S.Army committment in Bancock Thialand. I would be interested in helping in this ministry.

Background: Southeast Asia Mission

Pastor Joseph Mullen, Pensacola United Meth. Community Ministries wrote on 2/27/2008 10:04:06 PM

Having served in Vietnam as a combat medic with the Marine Corps in 1968-69, Many of the people we encountered in non-hostile situations showed remarkable curiosity about Jesus and his role in the lives of believers. The doors are even more ready to open for those who look at this fertile field to share God's Kingdom. I also served as a medical corpsman at the Naval Hospital Taipei Taiwan 1971-75. We started a church and outreach medical ministry in the community and medical missions to the local orphanages. Much work to do, yet very hospitable and plenty of potential

Annual Conference to Focus on Leader Development

Alexander Palomaria wrote on 2/23/2008 11:45:40 AM

As an Air Force Chaplain, we're trained and reminded that leadership is essential as leaders for our country. However, I also believe that leadership is just as important in the local church and home as we walk in the shadow of the Almighty.

Annual Conference to Focus on Leader Development

Larry Teasley wrote on 2/20/2008 12:47:54 PM

This will be a great opportunity for both the laity and clergy of the Alabama West Florida Annual Conference. I find it exciting that both laity and clergy will sit together under the same teaching. I hope this will spawn rigorus conversation among us, while igniting a passionate theology of evangelism.