Photo by Larry Garrard. Members of Alpharetta First UMC's Early Response Team pray with a homeowner in Newnan.  By Sybil Davidson True to our calling, North Georgia United Methodists are responding to last week's devastating storms by showing love to neighbor. The National Weather Service has confirmed that on March 25 an EF4 tornado struck in Heard, Coweta, and Fayette counties, along with an EF1 tornado in Bartow county, and a significant downburst in Polk county. Other parts of the ...

Major storms crossed the Southeast last week including a tornado causing significant damage in the Newnan area. There are reports of wind damage and localized flooding in other parts of the conference. Our neighbors in Alabama also saw storm damage and multiple fatalities. The North Georgia Conference is coordinating with UMCOR, Early Response Teams, and with Coweta County Emergency Management. Response work is underway. Read on for updates:  UPDATE: March 31 In addition to the trained ERT ...

While Hurricane Sally is off the minds of many of us here in North Georgia, communities along the Gulf coast are still in the early phases of recovery. The North Georgia Conference has sent several trained ERT teams and would like to send many more. Our Conference Disaster Response Coordinator, Rev. Scott Parrish, headed to the Alabama-West Florida Conference to check in on our neighbors and learn more about how we can help! Follow along with Scott:   Downed Trees and Debris Piles Once I got ...

Less than one month after the Gulf Coast was struck by Hurricane Laura, all eyes turned this week to Hurricane Sally. Conference leaders have been in contact with counterparts in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi and South Georgia as heavy rains and winds from the slow-moving storm may have wide-ranging impact. Many areas of the Florida Panhandle and coastal Alabama remain without power and are in the early stages of assessment.   "With Hurricane Laura, Hurricane Sally, and the current devastating ...

Updated April 14 As we continue to learn about damage from the devastating storms across Georgia and the southeast on Easter night, local news outlets are reporting that at least seven people died in our area. Search and recovery efforts are still underway.  Photos from the Chattanooga Times Free Press show the devastation in North Murray County in the Northwest District: https://www.timesfreepress.com/galleries/albums/8856/#images-1   We have received reports of home damage and damage to ...

Your church is invited to send a team to join the North Georgia Conference #SheetrockArmy to provide help and hope to neighbors across the southeast. There is an overwhelming need for Disaster Response teams and we in North Georgia are perfectly positioned to help. We were among the first to get there after hurricanes struck and we've promised to be among the last to leave. Here are some of the nearby needs and how a team from your church can connect and serve: Alabama-West Florida Conference  ...

September 1, the Abaco Islands and Grand Bahama Island experienced “unprecedented devastation" as a category 5 hurricane stalled over the northern islands of the Bahamas. But even before Hurricane Dorian had run its course, UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) was connecting with Methodists in the Bahamas to start relief efforts.  The North Georgia Annual Conference has strong ties to our neighbors in the Bahamas, and many churches have already begun collecting special offerings to ...

Updated September 10 As rescue and recovery efforts begin following Hurricane Dorian, our prayers are with all impacted by the storm and with our neighbors in the Bahamas. UMCOR (United Methodist Committee On Relief) has awarded a solidarity grant to Bahamas Methodist Habitat, the Disaster Ministry of the Bahamas Conference of the Methodist Church. Bishop Theophilus Rolle, president of the Bahamas, Turks & Caicos Islands Conference of the Methodist Church, said that the hurricane's force has ...

There was heartbreaking news of devastation after severe storms and tornadoes swept through Alabama and into parts of Georgia on March 3. "I am praying for the families of those who lost their lives in Alabama, and for these dealing with wreckage in Alabama and South Georgia," said Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson. "Prayers also for the first responders and those helping directly, including Rev. Robin Wilson, pastor at First UMC, Opelika, Rev. Jeff Wilson, Opelika District Superintendent, and North ...

North Georgia Conference churches send youth, adult, and intergenerational teams on international mission trips every year. The good work of the teams (and within the teams) is multiplied when our United Methodist best practices are in place. Adequate insurance, following Safe Sanctuaries policies, and taking other planning and protection into account mean that best-case scenarios are even better and worst-case scenarios aren't a crisis. United Methodist Volunteers in Mission is our partner in...