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       The Orchard Continues to Grow on a New Campus

The Orchard UMC
1950 Highway 81 South
Loganville, GA 30052
Office: 770-554-3533
Fax: (770) 554-6846
info(at)theorchardhchurch.org
www.theorchardchurch.org   

Want to know where the newest United Methodist church campus is?  Just drive down Hwy 81 in Loganville, GA. till you see the bright LED sign.  At the top of the hill, you will find a brand new 16,000 sq. ft. facility sitting on ten acres of land that lies between three local hot spots - Youth Middle School, Youth Elementary, and BlueSprings Soccer Fields.  With plans to purchase 10 more acres over the next four years, and several hundred more feet of highway frontage, the project is a dream come true for the people of The Orchard. 

Appointed to Loganville in June of 2001, and without knowing a soul, Pastor Ben Cathey began gathering a launch team through personal contacts and by visiting over 550 homes in the local area.  Beginning with a launch team of 17 people in the spring of 2002, The Orchard hosted an average of just under 100 people in worship it's first year.  Over the last 5 1/2 years the congregation has more than quadrupled in size reaching an average Sunday attendance of over 410 people.  Praise God!  Along the way, the people of The Orchard have reached hundreds of unchurched, dechurched, and non-believing people.  More than 60% of new members are by profession of faith.  Recently the church launched a campaign to help newcomers get involved, and over 200 adults joined one of 13 different small groups that meet around the community during the week.  Orchard T-shirts, car magnates, and even billboards can be seen all over Loganville these days.

The first Trailer Team Leader, Chad Maddox, after spending years (305 times to be exact) moving in and out of Loganville Middle School and then Loganville High School, says, "Now we can better use our gifts and talents to meet the needs of people instead of spending hour upon hour moving equipment in and out of LHS every Sunday."  As The Orchard grew so did the trailer team.  At its height, the team was composed of over 25 members, and the church's equipment was kept in two 8'x20' trailers.  Everything had to be brought in from the trailers - speakers, screens, TV’s, computers, cribs, coffee pots, free bibles, hospitality tables, fake plants, rugs for the children’s areas, children’s toys, rocking chairs, decorative plants, table covers, cleaning supplies, privacy walls, a drum kit, drama sets, first aid kits, communion and baptism supplies, etc., etc., etc.  

The mascot for Loganville High School is the Red Devils.  Pastor Ben Cathey jokes, "It's great not to be a homeless church anymore... we were tired of worshipping at the home of the red devils.  Now we get to worship in God's House every Sunday."

Visit the website of the church with the newest church campus in North Georgia United Methodism: www.theorchardchurch.org