12/20/2022

In 2022, Christmas week includes both the longest night of the year and some of the coldest nights in many years, with highs expected to be below freezing. United Methodist churches across our Conference are opening their doors for those without a place to stay warm. United Methodist churches opening as overnight shelters this week (and this season) include: Brookhaven UMC Central UMC Conyers First UMC Decatur First UMC Douglasville UMC Due West UMC Ellijay First UMC Rome First UMC Tucker First...

12/19/2022

By Rev. Stacey Rushing The North Georgia Housing and Homeless Council is excited to celebrate its 2022 Operational Grant Recipients! We appreciate the work of the Housing and Homeless Council members who reviewed applications, visited applicants, and prayerfully discussed how to best award funds to help the Church serve neighbors in need. We were so inspired by churches of all sizes in communities across the North Georgia Conference who are finding meaningful ways to address poverty and ...

11/9/2022

NOMADS serving at Murphy-Harpst in Cedartown. By Sybil Davidson NOMADS have been “on the road” in service for 35 years and there’s room for more to join their numbers. This mission outreach group completes approximately 150 projects for United Methodist ministry partners each year across the United States. Participants must have an RV (recreational vehicle), an adventurous spirit, and a heart for Christian service work. NOMADS are predominantly retirees, and a mix of couples and singles. “...

7/7/2022

Dear Ms. Childs, I write with gratitude to you and trustees for your steadfast support of The Emory Eye Center's Pediatric Ophthalmology Program. Your investment will have a lasting impact on our patients and their families, allowing ophthalmologists and Eye Center specialists to provide compassionate, collaborative care for the diagnosis and treatment of children's vision programs.  Thank you again for your generosity. Sincerely, Gregory L Fenves President, Emory University   Julie Childs, ...

5/4/2022

With funding already provided, the greatest need from North Georgia Conference congregations and individuals is for prayer. The North Georgia Conference has enjoyed partnering with Zoe Empowers, Kenya for many years. This incredibly transformational ministry empowers orphaned and vulnerable children to become entrepreneurs who are socially, economically, and spiritually strong. Zoe understands that addressing multiple barriers simultaneously is the only way to overcome extreme poverty.  We ...

4/14/2022

By Rev. David Blackwood I have been appointed to Bremen First UMC since July of 2021. Bremen, a small town of about 7,000 people, is seeing growth as the Atlanta suburbs move west and Carrollton expands north. We know from MissionInsite that the majority of people moving to Bremen are young families drawn to the area for the school system and housing. The church is working to welcome these new families to our community and to help them find a place of community and connection.   KidQuest gives ...

3/22/2022

March 28 Update: To date, Smith has raised more than $3,500! When 9-year-old Senoia UMC member Smith heard about the crisis in Ukraine he wanted to do something to help. Today, with a kitchen (and family) covered in flour, he's sold nearly 50 pound cakes to raise funds to support the humanitarian work of UMCOR.  "Smith is the youngest of our four sons," said Smith's mom, Emily Wilson. "We have had many dinner discussions about the horror that is taking place in Ukraine. Our pastor [Rev. Ashley...

3/10/2022

This winter Grace UMC in Covington has opened its doors as the local warming center location and will continue the outreach through the end of March. In partnership with the City of Covington, nine churches in the area are assisting with this project, including Covington First UMC.   The warming center operates 7 days a week from 5 pm through 8 am for people who need a warm place to sleep. The Rev. Dr. Robert Crawford, pastor of Grace, shared that guests are served dinner, breakfast, and given a...

1/5/2022

By Becky Nicovich In October 2021, a Little Free Pantry was installed on the campus of Harmony Grove UMC in Lilburn. For those unfamiliar with the Little Free Pantry concept, it is based on the Little Free Library® model, except the box is stocked with food and hygiene items instead of books. And though the box "lives" on the church campus, it belongs to the community. Anyone is welcome to take items from the box and anyone is welcome to place items in the box. The box is accessible 24/7. There...

12/2/2021

The Barnes Evaluation and Administration Team has wrapped up its work for 2021 having invested $783,914.00 in innovative mission and ministry in the North Georgia Conference! The BEAT Team, entrusted by our Annual Conference to receive grant applications and make the best mission investments possible for the whole of the conference, funded 14 grants across 6 districts. The grants vary from funding for mold remediation to funding for a community park, digital ministry to a medical clinic. "For ...