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July 2, 2019

Annual Conference and COT

On June 2, 2019, the Alabama-West Florida Conference convened for Annual Conference as they do each year in June. Clergy, lay delegates, choirs, and interested members gathered for worship and to conduct the business of the conference. Communities of Transformation values our relationship with the AWFUMC and is grateful for the opportunity to attend Annual Conference. Thanks to all of you who stopped by our table! We loved visiting with you and hearing about the transformation happening in your community. It is a privilege to share this ministry with so many dedicated clergy and lay leaders, and we look forward to continuing to create sustainable change across our conference.  

Meet Montgomery's New Site Coordinator!

Our Montgomery site welcomes new coordinator Amy Armistead! Amy is passionate about equipping and empowering folks in her community to break down barriers and cultivate meaningful relationships. Amy is also a United Methodist pastor, which has fueled her love of community building. She is very recently married to a UMC deacon, and they enjoy spending time with their dog Nora, cooking, and traveling. Amy is from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, but is excited to call Montgomery her new home.

 

Celebrations Around the Conference

Mobile

Communities of Transformation Mobile celebrated their seventh Awaken Class on May 30, 2019. Two determined women, Jennifer and Bobbi, finished the leadership class despite the April storms. This class formed a tight bond and learned to lean on each other as they went deeper into holistic leadership curriculum. The site participant trainer, Amy, speaks of the bravery shown in the class as everyone in the small group learned how to be more vulnerable and trust a new community. This class is excited to begin the next step as they begin writing their new future story as they walk with the COT community as they work on their goals. 

Rev. John Russell was the guest speaker for the celebration event. Rev. Russell was part of the original planning team that launched Communities of Transformation in Mobile. He shared a message centered around the book of Nehemiah and God’s plan for his life. We were reminded that with God and our community, we are able to change our lives and bring forth a brighter tomorrow for those around us. 

This community is excited to continue to bring change to their lives and begin walking towards their brighter tomorrow. COT Mobile will be starting their next leadership class this fall! Please contact katywrona.cot@gmail.com to learn more. 

Evergreen

Our Evergreen site held their celebration in May, and what a celebration it was! We celebrated with the diversity that makes up our site: children in the bow tie club, interpretive dance, singing from members of matched groups, delicious food, and fellowship with people expressing interest in the next Awaken Class.  

One of the Awaken Class Celebrants said, “I have made mistakes, even served time in prison but my life is making a transformation through this program. I am giving my life to the Lord, learning to repair my credit, and working toward home ownership ...and I have a job I love!”

The celebration clearly demonstrated our mission of building relationships! The entire night was joyous with an attitude that only comes from a loving, thankful, celebrating community. 

It was a wonderful night planned by everyone involved in our site and greatly supported by the community with over 80 in attendance! As a pastor in attendance said, “It was an amazing night of celebration and love.

South Walton

Our site’s first Celebration of Awaken graduates, volunteers, and partners for Caring and Sharing's Communities of Transformation program on June 25 was so amazing! The food, trivia and decorations were awesome-- we had a luau theme and a photo booth provided by a participant! But the best part, of course, was the people and the stories shared--the hearts and courage and the vulnerability. Three of the six Awaken graduates gave their testimonies, and there were many tears.  About sixty people were in attendance, all of whom who were graduates, volunteers, family members, donors or partners in some way.  We so appreciated Director Katy Wrona and Rosaland Harrison coming to show their support and celebrate with us.  

 

Update on our Selma Site

After being on hiatus for the past few months, our Selma site is ready to move forward! We are recruiting now to begin community development work before we relaunch the site later this year. We are also hiring a VISTA to be our new site coordinator. You can see the job posting here: https://www.communitiesoftransformation.org/job-opportunities. Contact Katy at katywrona.cot@gmail.com for more information.

 

Events

Reminder: no July meetings in Eufaula, Montgomery, and Phenix City

July 23- Taste and See in Dothan

August 12- Meetings resume in Eufaula

August 13- Meetings resume in Phenix City

August 27- Taste and See in South Walton 

 

 

 

 

Want more?

Contact us

Katy Wrona,
Conference Director

Email Katy

 

Courtney Albrecht, Communications Coordinator

Email Courtney

 

 

 

 

 
Open Hearts. Open Minds. Open Doors.