9/30/2022

By Sybil Davidson When QR Codes first appeared more than a decade ago they were more of a novelty than a useful tool. (Did you ever fumble with downloading an app to try to scan a QR code only to realize you could have typed in a web address more quickly?)  They have made quite a comeback in recent years as they became scannable through the camera on your phone. QR code stands for "Quick Response," and the black and white squares are now living up to their name. Consider Here are some ...

3/23/2022

The latest advertising campaign from The United Methodist Church invites people to join us in celebrating a new season for togetherness. It encourages people to discover new friends, a new community with meaningful connections, and a new peaceful, joy-filled outlook on life. The messaging will reach people through digital display and video, including social media, websites, search engines, advanced television, and billboards. Advertisements will run starting this week through mid-April. Each ad ...

5/6/2020

By SYBIL DAVIDSON In the last two months, many clergy and church leaders have gone from watching YouTube videos to recording YouTube videos. Living rooms have become live stream sets. Many of you have mastered the art of the Zoom meeting. With some of these basics of virtual community in place, here are a few tools to consider that may help improve your church's online presence.  Canva.com Canva is a graphic design platform that allows users to create social media graphics, presentations, and...

4/19/2018

By Rachel Quartarone   In today’s hectic world, it’s difficult to get a large group of people into one place and one time. With almost everyone carrying a cell phone in their pocket, technology can help to bring people together when they are literally hundreds of miles apart. As bastions of tradition, churches can sometimes be slow to embrace technological advancements. There is still a power to one-on-one conversations and actual “face time” that nothing will replace, but as technology has ...

4/12/2018

United Methodist Communications grant applications are now open in two categories: New Church Starts and Website Development.  New churches can apply for a 2018 grant for communications focused on community outreach and establishing your presence in the community. Applicants should identify at least two community events that they will attend to promote their new church. UMcom grant specialists will work with you to identify promotional materials that will fit your needs to best market your ...

1/25/2018

Photo: On the set of 'Hidden Figures' courtesy of Collins Memorial UMC The booming Georgia film industry has become a new part of daily life in many communities across our Conference. Local churches have enjoyed the opportunity to rent their buildings or parking lots for sets or staging areas. Collins Memorial UMC, for instance, can be seen in the Oscar-nominated film "Hidden Figures." And St. Paul UMC was able to install air conditioning in its sanctuary after the filming of “The Fighting ...

12/7/2017

Editors Note: The North Georgia Conference invited writer and former local church communications director Robert Carnes to share some advice on storytelling. By Robert Carnes Stories are everywhere. People have been telling stories since the beginning, but we got the idea from the one who created us. The church has an opportunity to tell the greatest story ever told—the story of Christ. We can leverage the power of narrative to connect with people. Church leaders just need to keep these three...

11/14/2017

Tour to Stop in North Georgia Friday, December 22 Sixteen states, 21 cities, 23 days, 500+ volunteers, 16,400 cups of cocoa, a truckload of Christmas spirit and just one purpose: to help people unwrap the true meaning of Christmas. The United Methodist Church is hitting the road in December in a gift-wrapped touring truck, decked out to share a warm invitation to experience the true meaning of Christmas from city-to-city. Roswell, Georgia is stop number 19 on the Tour where staff and members of...

3/30/2017

The Rev. Dr. Teresa Angle-Young, an elder in the North Georgia Conference, has joined the staff of United Methodist Communications in Nashville as Director of Seeker Communications and Advertising.   “In all of my appointments I have learned, grown, and seen fruit. I truly believe that God can and does employ us even to the ends of the earth, so for me, serving in a UMC agency is yet another exciting expression of the many ways God can use us to facilitate an encounter with the living Christ. … ...

3/27/2017

This photo of Bishop Sharma Lewis taken by Ansley Brackin was awarded first place in photography at the UMAC gathering in New Orleans.  Approximately 160 storytellers, including North Georgia Conference communication staff, gathered in New Orleans March 23-25 to “Embrace the Story” at the annual United Methodist Association of Communicators meeting. Among the highlights of the event was the Awards Celebration Gala where United Methodist communicators were recognized for outstanding work. A ...