Youth from Ethnic congregations share what Encounter 2013 meant to them

The North Alabama Conference Ethnic ministries gave full scholarships for youth from ethnic congregations to attend Encounter 2013. Below are testimonies from students and adults who took part in this annual event for youth. Enon UMC Chaperon:  I wish I knew about events like this when I was a child but it is the greatest thing you can do for kids in this time in age. LaTunya Littlepage: This was my first time coming, but I have to say, this is a great thing for our...

Ethnic Local Church Grant deadline is October 1

Each year North Alabama Conference congregations have two opportunities to apply for grant monies from the Conference to help them strengthen programming and outreach ministries to ethnic minorities. The next deadline for the Ethnic Local Church Grant applications is October 1. The Ethnic Local Church Grants are awarded by the Ethnic Local Church Concerns (ELCC) Team of the North Alabama Conference. This is a ministry team of the Office of Connectional Ministries, responsible...

Apply Now for EIST Grants that Support Racial-Ethnic Leadership Programs

When a woman from Ecuador involved in “Sazon para el Alma” had brain surgery, volunteers from the local United Methodist church that hosts the program supported Marianna Tandayamo and her daughter, Jessica, with meals, transportation, prayer, and other support. The program, which means “Seasoning for the Soul” in English, is a project of PlumbLine Fellowship, a multicultural new church start within Narbeth United Methodist Church, located in a suburb of...

North Alabama group holds consultation and begins to look to future Hispanic Ministries

On Tuesday, January 24, 2012, a team of people active in Hispanic ministries from across the North Alabama Conference gathered for an initial consultation and to begin a strategic comprehensive planning process for Hispanic ministries in the Conference. The group met with Rev. Dionisio Salazar from the Office of Hispanic/Latino Ministries of the General Board of Global Ministries. The purpose of the day-long meeting was threefold.  to assess the current status of Hispanic...

Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century to offer wide range of trainings during 2012

North Alabama Conference's Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century (SCB21) team historically has offered a training event in January each year. This year the SBC21 team announces they are taking a different approach to challenge and equip North Alabama’s African-American Churches. There will be a wide range of training offered throughout 2012 varying from one-day workshops to traveling to sites designated by the national SBC21. North Alabama SBC21 Convener Pastor Marcus J....

King's Memorial UMC featured in Convention and Visitor's Bureau video

The Decatur-Morgan County Convention & Visitor's Bureau has released a new video entitled Lift Every Voice and Sing. The nine minute DVD highlights pioneer African-American individuals, families and congregations who have played significant roles in the history of Decatur, Alabama. One congregation prominently highlighted in this video is King's Memorial United Methodist Church in the Northwest District. King's Memorial UMC is Decatur's oldest historically African-American...

Summer internships for racial/ethnic minority, Central Conference young adults deadline is Feb. 1, 2012

Persons, ages 18-22, interested in exploring public policy and social justice advocacy will work in U.S. capital. Deadline to apply for a 2012 Ethnic Young Adult (EYA) Summer Internship in Washington, D.C., is Feb. 1. The EYA program is for persons, ages 18-22, who have an interest in exploring issues of public policy, social justice advocacy and social change. Sponsored by the General Board of Church & Society (GBCS), the summer internship is for young adults representing the five...

$300K in Clergy and Seminary Grants Available

Up to $300,000 in grants is being offered to clergy leaders and UM seminaries whose ideas and programs help strengthen The United Methodist Church's ability to maximize racial diversity and inclusiveness among leadership, congregations and beyond.   Applications are being accepted now through July 31, 2011, for the new General Commission on Religion and Race (GCORR) Action Fund priority (funded by the Minority Group Self-Determination Fund) of the United Methodist Church's General...

Canterbury and St. Paul UMCs create Sisters and Brothers United to build relationships, break down barriers

Last spring Canterbury UMC’s Church and Society Team, with Brannon Buck as Chair, and Rev. Oliver Clark as Staff representative, began working with Rev. Marcus Singleton, pastor of St. Paul UMC in downtown Birmingham, to recruit persons from both churches to outline a plan of action toward dismantling the racism that still seems to be present in our society. Canterbury UMC is a predominantly white congregation and St. Paul UMC is a predominantly African-American congregation. Guided by...

SBC21 event helps local churches focus on missions and equips them for church growth

Clergy and members of black churches throughout North Alabama gathered in Birmingham on Jan. 21-22, 2011, for the North Alabama Conference's annual Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century (SCB21) event. This annual training event seeks to empower local churches for growth. The focus of this year's SBC21 event to equip local churches is missions. The weekend featured times of worship, networking, fellowship and learning from nationally known preachers and presenters. The event...

Restoration Mission transforms community one heart and one house at a time

This weekend, January 21-22, 2011, the Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century (SBC21) annual training event will seek to empower local churches for growth focusing on the Conference priority of “missions.” This article features one of the churches participating in the SBC21 event that has been involved in missions for more than twenty years. Restoration Mission: Transforming Our Community Restoration Mission, under the leadership of Rev. Al and Sister Pashion Lewis,...

Mission to be focus of SBC 21 training

The General Board of Church and Society's enewsletter Faith In Action for Jan. 18, 2011, made note of the North Alabama Conference's annual Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century (SCB21) event that will take place in Birmingham this weekend,  Jan. 21-22, 2011.  The focus of this year's SBC21 event to equip local churches is missions. The weekend event will feature nationally known presenters.   Below is the write up from the Faith In Action...

Conference announces Comprehensive Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministries

North Alabama Conference Bishop Will Willimon announces, “Under the leadership of Dr. Thomas Muhomba, our Conference Director of Ethnic Ministries, a Comprehensive Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministries has now been developed. The Plan has been presented to us and is now being enacted.” The vision of the “Comprehensive Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministries for the North Alabama Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church 2011 ~ 2016” is To start and maintain a...

New Bethel UMC members and friends celebrate a Black History moment brought to you by Coca-Cola

February is Black History month and here’s a story connecting a Black history moment in the United States to a rural North Alabama United Methodist Church. A one-time member of New Bethel UMC (Mountain Lakes District) was one of the first non-celebrity African-American women to appear in a Coca Cola ad. Here is her story presented by Mr. Harry Butler. The first weekend in May is always the date for the Cowser family homecoming celebration at New Bethel UMC in Ballplay, AL. The annual...

SBC21 Annual Event equips churches for Effective Leadership

On January 23- 24, 2010, North Alabama United Methodists gathered in Birmingham for the Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century (SBC21) Annual Event. The focus of the 2010 event was Effective Leadership. Guest speakers and workshop leaders included leading United Methodist pastors from throughout the United States. Conference Director of Ethnic and Multicultural Ministries Dr. Thomas Muhomba says, “This year’s event was great. I loved it. The speakers were outstanding...

Haven UMC Empowers a New Generation

by Rev. Tiwirai Kufarimai Sunday, May 31, 2009, Haven Memorial United Methodist children and youth handled the entire worship experience. While last year they invited another youth from a different church in the district, this time around it was all about empowering our local church’s new generation. What was touching for me is to see how our children and youth are willing vessels to be used by God to further the cause of the calling of all believers. Their comfort in the different...

Sweet Home UMC — An Older Congregation Moving in a New Direction

The amazement of Sweet Home United Methodist Church continues. From a history including questions in late 2007 and early 2008 about whether there would be a future, to a present that is alive and vital with the future opening to new possibilities, this transformation is truly an act of faith empowered by the Spirit of God. Rev. Clauzell Williams was appointed to Sweet Home in June 2008 and invited the congregation to covenant together, in writing, around the following foci for ministry: ...

Flint Hill and Haven Memorial UMC's Take a New Approach to Building Bridges

On Sunday, April 19, the pastors and choirs of Haven Memorial UMC (an African-American church) and Flint Hill UMC (a Caucasian church), both in the Southeast District, exchanged pulpits and choir lofts. This action came about because of the connectional system, the friendship between the two pastors and, most importantly because of the love of Christ that tears down walls and builds relationships. Reflecting on the experience, Rev. Tiwirai Kufarimai, pastor of Haven Memorial UMC, writes,...

North Alabama Youth Attend Junaluska Conference

A group of youth from the North Alabama Conference had a unique opportunity to travel to Lake Junaluska in North Carolina for the Ebony Youth Christian Vocation Exploration Retreat in early March. The theme was "Holla, Holla, God is Calling!" Mentors and presenters were specifically selected for this event to help African-American young adults discover their spiritual gifts and explore the great variety and possible ministries to which God may be calling them in The United Methodist...

Ethnic Young Adult Summer Internship application deadline is Feb. 1

Applicants, age 18-22, will work in social justice placements in Washington, D.C. WASHINGTON, D.C. —  Deadline to apply for an Ethnic Young Adult (EYA) Summer Internship in Washington, D.C., is Feb. 1. The EYA program is for young adults, ages 18-22, who have an interest in exploring issues of public policy, social justice advocacy and social change. Sponsored by the Inter-Ethnic Strategy Development Group and administered by the United Methodist Church’s General Board of...