Read the full September 5 edition: www.sgaumc.org/advocate
Be encouraged!
News
September 1 marks one year anniversary for Bishop Bryan in South Georgia
We want to wish Bishop Lawson Bryan a happy One Year Anniversary! September 1 marked one year he has served as the episcopal leader in the South Georgia Conference. Recently, Bishop Bryan and Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson, episcopal leader of the North Georgia Conference, sat down to reflect on their first year of ministry here in Georgia. We are so thankful for their spiritual leadership and guidance and can’t wait to see what this next year holds! Click here to watch video.
Churches paint, hide rocks to share hope, faith
Lena Sumner, a fifth-grade student in Christy
Yates' Park Avenue UMC Sunday school class,
paints a scripture verse on a rock.
A little acrylic paint and a few rocks are helping spread hope and love across South Georgia communities. From Bainbridge to Brunswick, individuals and groups are painting rocks and brightening people’s days, one rock at a time.
At Park Avenue United Methodist Church, Christy Yates’ fifth-grade Sunday school class is learning about the Bible through, of all things, rocks.
Inspired by popular local Facebook rock painting groups like Valdosta Rocks! and Hahira Rocks!, Yates thought rock painting would be a great activity for her students.
“Lots of my Sunday school kids were looking for rocks and finding rocks … so I thought it might be a fun way to connect with them,” she said.
Yates’ is leading her students through each book of the Bible this year and thought rock painting would be a creative way to review lessons, facilitate discussion, and help the class remember what they have learned. Read more ...
St. Simons UMC father helps organize $6,500 student debt payoff
A note sent home in his son’s folder before the end of school last May spurred one St. Simons Island man into action to organize a community effort to pay off the lunch debt at every school in Glynn County.
The note reminded parents to pay their children’s cafeteria debts. Instead of reading it and immediately tossing the note in the trash, Dan Meyers, a member of St. Simons United Methodist Church, wondered what he could do to help those who couldn’t afford to pay what they owed.
“I thought, ‘Man, it stinks that there are kids as young as 4 years old carrying debt,” Meyers said, adding that the debt accrues and follows the student year to year. “That’s crazy.”
He found out anyone could help get accounts up to date, and decided to make that happen. He posted on Facebook, asking if others wanted to join the cause. People responded almost immediately, leaving cash in envelopes on his doorstep and in his mailbox, sending him money via Paypal, and dropping cash and checks off at the schools.
What started out as one father’s desire to see the $89 cafeteria debt at one elementary school paid turned into something much bigger than he dreamed. Read more ...
Disaster Response: Responding to Hurricane Harvey
From Allison Lindsey, Associate Director, Office of Connectional Ministries
To the South Georgia Conference:
I have said before that it is times like these that we see just how very "Alive Together in Christ" we are! Thank you for the outpouring of prayer and support for those impacted by Hurricane Harvey. We are seeing a tremendous response across South Georgia in very tangible ways.
The Bishop has encouraged local churches to take up a special offering, which will be sent to the Texas conferences experiencing this devastation. This insert can be used to help promote this in your local churches.
For more information, including upcoming ERT trainings, ERT Team invitations, an updated drop-off location list for relief supplies, and how to give, click here.
COB President appeals for prayers and disaster relief support
Council of Bishops President Bishop Bruce R. Ough is urging all United Methodists to pray and offer support to the victims of the flooding in the Gulf Coast and the mudslides in Sierra Leone.
In his letter, Bishop Ough said the heart-rending images from the floods in Texas and the mudslides in Sierra Leone should move all Christians into helping fellow brothers and sisters in the disaster areas.
“This is not a time to theologize on why disasters occur. This is time to act in love in order to help our sisters and brothers who are victims of these tragic events. This is not a time to point fingers but to raise our hands in praise to those first responders and volunteers who are already helping to save lives,” he said.
He urged Methodists to do three things:
a) Donate funds; b) Offer spiritual support; and c) Offer practical help.
Bishop Ough said Christians should still have hope that God will lift up those under the water and “out of the mud and mire; set [their] feet on a rock and give [them] a firm place to stand.” (Psalm 40:2)
CLICK HERE TO READ BISHOP OUGH’S FULL STATEMENT
CLICK BELOW TO READ BISHOP APPEALS FROM THE BISHOPS IN TEXAS
www.txcumc.org/floodrelief
riotexas.org/harvey-blog/2017/8/30/bishop-makes-special-appeal
CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT RECOVERY EFFORTS
North Georgia UM churches partnering in new ways with new campus ministries
As college students begin a new school year, United Methodist churches are partnering in new ways with the Georgia UMCommission to launch and champion new campus ministries. Three notable new ministries are in the works thanks to our United Methodist connection: Georgia Gwinnett Wesley, West Georgia Wesley, and Augusta Wesley. Read more ...
From the Bishop
The human chain
The beginning of my second year in the South Georgia Conference coincides with the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in Texas and Louisiana. That is interesting because during my first year we experienced three disasters of our own: Hurricane Matthew, the storms in Albany, and the tornadoes in the South Central and Southwest Districts. We are grateful for those who reached out to us in the past year and our conference is already at work to support relief efforts for victims of Harvey.
This Sunday, Sept. 10, let’s be Alive Together in Christ by receiving a special offering for Hurricane Harvey Relief. Sherrill and I are giving $1,000 to this special offering in honor of the laity and clergy of the South Georgia Conference. You can 1) Donate online; 2) Give through your local church to Conference Advance #5827 - Hurricane Harvey Relief (lane 5 credit); or 3) Mail a check to the Administrative Services Office made out to the South Georgia Conference and earmarked Conference Advance #5827 - Hurricane Harvey Relief (address: PO Box 13145, Macon, GA 31208). This offering will be sent directly to the Texas conferences experiencing this devastation.
Many news reports showed the human chains that were formed to rescue those stranded in cars or houses. One by one these determined residents joined hands until the human chain reached the person in need. Then the strength of the chain was used to bring them to safety.
That phrase, “the human chain,” also describes my experience of the South Georgia Conference over the last 12 months. God is using our 600 churches to form a human chain of ministry that covers all of South Georgia. This was seen in dramatic fashion as our members responded to the victims of the three disasters. But it was also visible in the worship services, small group studies, and age-level ministries provided by our churches. In addition, the faithful service of our conference staff allowed us to offer resources and training to our local churches. Read more ...
Connectional Ministries
Conference Disability Ministries Committee seeks passionate volunteers
By Christy Odum, member of the Advocacy Team and chair of the Ministry with People with Disabilities subcommittee
Hello, South Georgia,
I had the privilege of traveling to Atlanta Sunday, Aug. 13 to attend a worship service and meeting for the Disability Ministries Committee. The worship service was filled with God’s presence and grace. My friend Mark Crenshaw of the North Georgia Conference brought the message and others with disabilities were involved with every aspect of the service. I heard many stories of what United Methodist churches can do to be more inclusive for those of us who have disabilities.
Recently I was asked to start a Disability Ministries Committee for our conference. I am very excited about this. My hope and prayer is that we as South Georgia United Methodists can reach out to our disabled friends and show them the hands and feet of Christ. I have been looking at the website Disability Ministries Committee of The United Methodist Church to see what other conferences are doing and to get ideas of some things we can do here in South Georgia.
I cannot do this alone! If you have a passion for the disability community please join me by sending me an email at christyodom1979@gmail.com and we will see where the Lord leads us.
Last chance to register for KidzQuest 2017: Game Changers!
KidzQuest, the annual children’s retreat sponsored by South Georgia’s Connectional Ministries, will be filled with 500 “Game Changers” September 22-24 at Epworth By The Sea. The theme, taken from Ephesians 4:22-24, will show students in 3rd-6th grades that no matter the age, Christ gives us a new life to truly be a game changer in this world!
Leadership for the weekend includes Clayton Poland, speaker and game show entertainer; Shawn Walden, worship leader; and Brandon “Hey Ya!” Rushin as KidzQuest's favorite emcee.
Online registration is available through Sept. 15 or until the retreat is full. Churches will register as a group and the cost for this event is $135 per person which includes programming, insurance, food, lodging, and a t-shirt. Click here to register. Adult chaperones with Safe Sanctuary certification must be provided by each church group.
For more information, contact Event Coordinator Suzanne Akins at suzanne@sgaumc.com or (912) 638-8626 ext 107, or click here.
Registration is OPEN. Click here to register your church group
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