Retreats are among the most expressive and affecting events a youth ministry can offer for the faith development and spiritual growth of youth, but they also take a lot of work putting together and carrying out. We've heard from youth ministers and congregations that it is helpful to have a trusted and proven retreat available for youth groups so that youth ministry leaders can participate and focus on the teenagers without having to worry about logistics, setup, supplies, or unexpected issues. ...

By REBECCA WALLACE DeDe Reilly has been a Children’s Minister for 25 years, and has relied on networking groups for Children’s Ministers in the North Georgia Conference for almost the same amount of time. “You can read books on how to do your job, but typically the people who write these books aren’t in the trenches,” she explained. She knew she needed to learn from other people “in the trenches,” so she started a group for networking with her peers. “The members of this group were and are ...

A new video resource from United Methodist Communications uses an animated John and Charles Wesley to share United Methodist history in an innovative and contemporary way. Created for use in confirmation classes, new member classes, Sunday school and small discussion groups, "The Wesleys Take the Web" is a series of three 1-minute episodes (also available as one 3-minute video) that aims to generate conversation about the history of The United Methodist Church and make it appealing to younger ...

Photo: Rev. Sam Halverson with a group of youth ministers gathering for YMI: Youth Ministry Institute. By Rebecca Wallace  The most important element of an organization is its people, and sometimes finding the right people is an organization’s biggest challenge. For some churches, there may not be a more important role than those that oversee the children and youth ministries. Thankfully, for members of the North Georgia Conference, there is help in hiring and filling those key positions. ...

United Methodist Academy of Scouting will return to North Georgia April 14. Scout leaders, scout coordinators, and clergy are encouraged to attend this conference on building the Duty-to-God component of their Scout programs. The training will be held April 14 from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm at Peachtree Rd UMC in Atlanta. Thirteen classes will be offered.   The training is also designed for clergy interested in starting a scout program (Boy Scout and Girl Scout) or a Big Brothers Big Sisters program at...

"Have you contacted the campus ministry of your college freshmen yet?" asks Rev. Sam Halverson, associate director of Connectional Ministries. Halverson offers the following advice: It's an easy thing to forget: you said 'goodbye' to your graduated seniors last spring and are now focused on the incoming middle schoolers, but wouldn't it be important to hand over the baton of your ministry to those who can speak into the spiritual lives of your graduated seniors? Here are four steps: Generate ...

Every thought. Every dream. Every fear. Every second. What's at the end of your 'every?'  God is calling us to a life with God where nothing is hidden, where we give it all to God. This year's Rooted Retreat for youth groups is scheduled for two weekends at Glisson: October 6-8 and October 13-15. The theme this year is "Everything." These annual North Georgia Conference Rooted Retreats are a ministry led by staff who want to provide a powerful retreat experience where youth leaders and youth ...

The stage is set at Tucker First UMC for their test of next year's Cokesbury VBS curriculum. (Photo courtesy of Mimi Sanders.) By Rachel Quartarone   The crafts and decorations may be packed away, but it’s never too early to start thinking about next year’s Vacation Bible School plans. Mimi Sanders, Children’s Director at Tucker First UMC knows this all too well. Her church has served as a test church for Cokesbury’s VBS curriculum twice now – most recently this June. Cokesbury is already at ...

With a theme of "Show Your Work: Worship that Inspires Action," there's no better time to get in on the "Action" than the 11th Annual North Georgia Conference 5K Walk/Run in historic downtown Athens! The event will benefit youth mission and service opportunities in the churches of our conference through the Youth Service Fund. For decades, the Conference Council on Youth Ministries has raised funds to help support unique ideas that place emphasis on ministry with and for young people in local ...

The second annual PAINT WAR RINGGOLD event was held as a messy and fun event for middle and high school students. Bobby Fleck, youth pastor of Ringgold UMC, organized the event at the church along with an army of more than 50 volunteers as a way to reach out to new students and have some great fun together. “The goal for these students is to have fun in a safe but crazy way,” said Fleck. “We want them to know that we are a church that cares about them, and we want them to know that they can ...