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April 14, 2015/Volume 14, No. 7

Conference News

Annual Conference Seeks Mass Choir Participants

For the 2015 Alabama-West Florida Conference Opening Worship Service on the evening of May 31, 2015, choir directors and singers from all over the conference are welcome to join the Frazer Memorial UMC choir to form a mass chorus. It has been a highlight of the conference to see a great choir from all of our churches singing together. More information here

Top 25 Fastest Growing Large United Methodist Churches, 2015 Edition

(Len Wilson) - I believe that the result of creative thinking is innovative practice, and the result of true innovation is growth. While not all growing churches are healthy churches, healthy churches grow, because growth isn’t the goal; it’s the outcome. Because of this, I like to follow the practices of growing congregations. What innovations are happening in the fastest growing large congregations, and how might other churches learn from them? In 2011 I published a list of the top 25 fastest growing large United Methodist churches. Here’s the updated list, and 25 of the most innovative churches in the United Methodist Church todayEditor's note: Crosspoint UMC and Gulf Breeze UMC, both in the AWF Conference, were featured in this list. 

Clergy Delegation Interest Form Online

The 2016 Clergy General and Jurisdictional Delegation Interest Form is live on the conference Website under Quick Links. All clergy eligible to be elected in the Alabama-West Florida Conference may complete this form if you are interested in serving as a delegate. The Clergy Delegation Interest List, also under Quick Links, will automatically populate onto the conference Website in alphabetical order of last name. Clergy can be elected without completing the form. The information you share will be public and people from outside our conference may contact you.

Around the Conference

Guest Commentary: Rev. Sara Shaver

In my former life, my family moved around a lot when my children were young. Moving to a new place meant finding a new church. One move we drove around the area looking at various United Methodist churches. We drove past one that had a sign with their name and underneath the name it read, “The church with the warm heart.” I said, “That’s where we need to go.” So we did. The next Sunday we began attending the church with the warm heart. It was summer and I volunteered for VBS and we took the new member class. The day we joined the church the pastor asked the congregation to greet us during coffee time. Not one person came and spoke to us – we just stood in the middle of the room with our coffee cups looking lost and forlorn. We weren’t regular attenders after that, found every excuse in the book to miss church. More here

Morgan's Chapel UMC Food Ministry Receives Donation

The weekly food ministry at Morgan's Chapel UMC in Bon Secour was recently awarded a $2,500 donation made possible by the generosity of the Monsanto Corporation’s America’s Farmers Grow Communities Grant Program. The donation will help the organization cover the costs associated with its food ministry. Bob Griffiths of Griffith’s Farms in Summerdale applied for the grant and was notified in January of being selected as the Baldwin County winner for this year’s award. Mr. Griffiths attends Morgan’s Chapel and chose the food ministry as the beneficiary of the donation. “I am honored to receive a $2,500 donation to give to Morgan’s Chapel food ministry,” said Griffiths. “The food ministry provides food assistance to individuals in the community every Wednesday, and I know this money will continue to help them.”  

New Police Chief Welcomed to Faith Community

Montgomery FUMC welcomed city leaders, including Mayor Todd Strange and newly appointed police chief, Chief Ernest Finley, to a community discussion on safe neighborhoods, crime, communicating with adolescents and working with one another to improve Montgomery. Area clergy were also invited to this lunch that included a Q and A with the new police chief. Dr. Lawson Bryan, senior minister, said, "The community lunch grew out of the ongoing meetings between pastors of the UMC, AME, AME-Zion, and CME churches. The mayor understood our desire to serve the larger community and offered to arrange a meeting with the new police chief–we gladly accepted that offer. The goal was to discuss how the new police chief understands community policing and what specific ways he will engage churches to help promote healthy relationships between the community and the police."

College Scholarship Offers Full Tuition to Foster Children 

(UMCH) - Applications are now available online for the United Methodist Children’s Home’s (UMCH) 2015-2016 Knabe Scholarship Program. In partnership with The University of North Alabama and The University of Alabama, The Knabe Scholarship provides higher education for college-aged foster youth. Originating in 2013, the scholarship program was made possible due to the generosity of Mary Whetstone Knabe. Mrs. Knabe left a restricted endowment for youth impacted by alternative living situations such as foster care. This program impacts many young people’s lives, with the ultimate goal of cultivating growth academically, spiritually, and socially to each student’s needs. Click here for more

Connectional News

#BringChange this World Malaria Day

(UMNS) — Be part of a world-changing moment in history by participating in World Malaria Day on April 25. Help The United Methodist Church reach its goal of $75 million to help end needless death and suffering from malaria. 
Learn more.

United Methodist Connectional FCU 2015 Annual College Scholarships Available

Are you or do you know a member age 17-35 who is attending or planning to attend college and attend church in in one of the four conferences? Let them know about your Credit Union's college scholarship program. Four winning applicants, one from each of our four conferences, Florida, North Georgia, South Georgia and Alabama-West Florida will receive a $1,000 scholarship each. Complete and Submit the Application and Essay no later than April 30, 2015. Click here for more details.

Petition Submission Begins for General Conference 2016

(UMNS) - Petitions for consideration by the 2016 General Conference may be submitted to the Petitions Secretary beginning April 1 and continuing through October 13, 2015. According to church law, "Any organization, clergy member, or lay member of The United Methodist Church may petition the General Conference..." Detailed instructions for submitting a petition are available on the General Conference website at gc2016.umc.org. Petitions must be typed and may be submitted through the General Conference website, by postal mail, or via e-mail to petitions@umpublishing.org. This e-mail address should be used for petition submission only. All other correspondence should be directed to petitionsquestions@umpublishing.org. Petitions submitted without digital media need to be submitted by July 1, 2015, to allow time for transcription and translation. More here

Volunteers Needed for General Conference

(UMNS) — Volunteers are needed for a variety of roles during the 2016 General Conference, The United Methodist Church's top legislative assembly, which will meet in Portland, Oregon, from May 10 to 20, 2016. All volunteers are responsible for their own travel and expenses. Those interested can apply now through July 1, 2015. Click here for more

Resources

Native American Ministries Sunday is this Sunday

As Native American Ministries Sunday draws near please be aware of the resources that are available to help you celebrate this Sunday along with many other United Methodist congregations. Did you know that when our churches support Native American Ministries Sunday, we equip seminary students and empower Native American congregations to find fresh, new ways to minister to their communities with the love of Christ?  It only happens with the support of local congregations. There is a Native American Ministries Sunday Pastor and Leader's Kit – complete with social media images, videos, an eBook and other great resources – for your leadership team to promote this Special Sunday. Click here to access your Pastor and Leader's Kit now!

Time Management for the Christian Leader

Are you looking to develop pastors, church staff, laity leaders, yourself? Does it seem like leaders are focused too much on the urgent, and not enough on the important? Do pastors, laity leaders, and churches need to learn how to set goals that are smarter? This new book is now available at most retail sources. Click here to place an order from Cokesbury

Events

Featured Event: revitup!

New to ministry? Or have you been around a while? Looking for new ideas? Trying to figure out the best approach? Want to be energized? Inspired? Informed? Put yourself at the top of your list! Plan to attend revitup!...For a Lifetime of Ministry! October 5-7, 2015. Click here for more

Academy for Ministries with Children, April 17-18

Native American Sunday, April 19

Momentum, Financial Discipleship for Everyone, April 20-21

Mobile District Pastor's Meeting, April 23

United Methodist Men Spring Advance, April 24-25

Dothan District Spring Meeting, April 27

5-day Academy for Spiritual Formation, May 4-9

Lay Servant Ministries Training, May 9

Youth Roundtable, May 11

Baypines District Clergy & Lay Delegate Orientation for AC, May 14

The Right Start, May 21

Annual Conference, May 31-June 3

Last Sunday for Current Appointments, June 21

Moving Day, June 23

Transition Sunday, June 28

 

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