New Vision UMC to hold grand opening of The Matrix Center on Feb. 3, 2012

The Matrix Center of New Vision United Methodist Church in Florence is more than a student center. It is designed to be a launching point for young people, bringing about a change in their lives and their community. The grand opening of The Matrix Center is set for Feb. 3, 2012. The Matrix Center developed as a way of addressing the best way to disciple young people today. Although, many people in youth ministry use youth talks as a primary teaching strategy, research has been shown that...

Congregational Development offers reduced rate tickets for Catalyst Conference in Atlanta

On October 6 – 7, 2011, approximately 13,000 young leaders will gather in Atlanta to experience the Catalyst Conference. The two day event, (proceeded by one day of learning Labs) targeted toward “next generation” leaders, offers a time of creative learning, energetic worship and inspiration from dynamic speakers. The North Alabama Conference Center for Congregational Development has once again secured a block of tickets at a reduced rate for those North Alabama United...

WE Community Gardens to hold fundraiser at Café Dupont on March 19

Three years ago, Community Church without Walls and Urban Ministry partnered together to turn an overgrown vacant lot in West End into a community garden. Rev. R.G. Lyons, pastor of the Community Church Without Walls, says, “As church members from CCWW began clearing the lot, we could not have imagined the transformative impact the garden would have on our entire community in three years. It has become a place that brings people together across racial, generational, and...

New Church plant The Gathering Place prepares for Launch Sunday on Jan. 16, 2011

The Gathering Place, a United Methodist church plant in the Moody area, is preparing to launch its public ministry later this month. In June 2010, Rev. Matt Scott was appointed to start a new congregation in the Moody area. He immediately began to meet people and form a “Launch Team” – a group of people whose role would be to simply assist in any means needed to launch what would soon become The Gathering Place Church. The launch team began to meet on a biweekly basis for...

ONEeighty Church, a satellite ministry of ClearBranch UMC, to celebrate one year of ministry on Nov. 21

“It’s never too late to make a one-eighty,” is an accepted motto of the ONEeighty Church in Springville. Since taking up vacant space next to Burton’s Grocery Store in June 2009, ONEeighty, a satellite ministry of ClearBranch United Methodist Church, has become a campus with a purpose of being a place where people can “turn their lives around.” As stated on the church website, “We believe God allows one-eighty turns, so we wanted to provide a place...

CrossWinds UMC celebrates grand opening and invites people to real faith

Crosswinds UMC in Harvest, (Northeast District) held their grand opening kick off celebration for their new building on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2010. The day included two worship services and a Tailgate Party with food, inflatables, footballs and fellowship. There were 387 people in attendance to celebrate the special day in the life of this new community of faith. During worship, CrossWinds pastors Rev. Michael and Rev. Suzanne Katschke explained that it was a special day, but also noted the...

The Master's Way UMC celebrates grand opening of church building

One of the ministry priorities of the North Alabama Conference is New Congregations. This fall one of North Alabama’s new communities of faith celebrated a milestone as The Master’s Way UMC congregation (Northeast District) held the grand opening for their church building in August. In June 2003, Rev. Barry Dunn was appointed to start a new congregation in the West Madison area, one of the biggest areas of growth in Huntsville. The church began with Barry and his wife Lydia...

New congregation celebrates new seating and the mighty works of God

Rev. Greg Reynolds, shares the following story from one of the North Alabama Conference’s new congregations – Brandon New Vision UMC in Florence. New congregations like New Vision UMC are possible because of the connectional giving of North Alabama Conference congregations. Recently, the familiar story often told as an illustration of how we perceive God's provisionary hand became a reality to me. There was a man living in a low lying area that flooded quite frequently. One day...

Vernon UMC reaches out with spirit of Conference priority of new congregations

Vernon First UMC is blazing new trails in Lamar County of the Southwest District. Vernon First UMC voted to move forward in starting a satellite church offering Spanish worship to West Alabama. This vote rose out of the SPRC meeting in September of 2009 during which leaders were responding to a question regarding of one of the North Alabama Conference core priorities: “What are you doing to start a new congregation?” Pastor Tim Bailey says, “In answering that question one of...

InnerChange UMC celebrates Christmas with the baptism of new Christians

On Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009, InnerChange UMC celebrated Christmas with a high energy worship service that included the celebration of baptism for several new Christ-followers. Rev. Mike Skelton explains, “We set worship up like a big Christmas party. I had a couple of folks who wanted to be baptized. At the end of the baptism, the guy who came dressed as Santa Claus came down and asked me to baptize him. This guy is a recovering drug user and new follower of Christ. We didn't know he...

Conference announces new provider of demographic information for local congregations

North Alabama Conference Director of Congregational Development Dr. Tommy Gray announces that MissionInsite is the new provider of demographic information for the North Alabama Conference. “We are moving from Percept to MissionInsite as our provider of demographic information,” Rev. Gray explains. “MissionInsite has more tools to help local congregations not only learn the demographics of their community, but to see and plan ministry opportunities within their...

GENESIS in Guntersville: Three Years and Going Strong

On Sunday August 30 First United Methodist Church of Guntersville celebrated the three year anniversary of it’s off campus ministry known as GENESIS. In 2006 under the vision and leadership of Rev. Robin B. Scott the congregation of First United Methodist took a leap of faith and began a new ministry that had as its focus reaching the least, the last, and the lost. Designed to offer a hand up rather than a hand out, GENESIS focused on hard core problems and needs that could only be...

Brandon New Vision congregation reaches the community for Christ through love and service

In August 2007, Brandon New Vision church held its first worship service in a small conference room in the Brandon Ministry Center.  A little more than a year late, the new church start continues to grow and minister to those in need.  Pastored by Rev. Greg Reynolds, the New Vision congregation has been able to start Sunday School classes for both children and adults, tutoring classes for children in the community on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and other community action...

Three conference churches "Pay It Forward"

Remember the movie Pay It Forward? A young boy writes an essay about doing good deeds, and suggests that instead of paying a person back for it, you should pay it forward by doing something good for someone else. That's exactly what happened recently between three churches in the North Alabama Conference. Back in April 2008, when Blountsville UMC was planning for its 190th anniversary, Rev. Bart Bowlin and the church's leaders decided that receiving a special offering for a new church start...

CrossWinds UMC uses July events to meet, greet, and reach out to the community

CrossWinds United Methodist Church, a new church start in the Harvest/Monrovia area of the Northeast District, recently held a month-long series of summer mission events entitled “Terrific Tuesdays.” CrossWinds Church officially launched on Easter Sunday and just entered their fourth month of weekly worship services. Every Tuesday night in July, the  congregation invited the community to a series of events designed to meet, greet, and reach out to the community. CrossWinds...

Emanuel Christian Church UMC celebrates dedication service

One of North Alabama's new communities of faith, Emanuel Church, held its dedication service on July 12, 2008, to celebrate its move to the former Sheffield Highland UMC building.  "The leadership of the Northwest District Superintendent Mike Stonbraker has permitted us to use this wonderful place for the Spanish ministry," Pastor Mirna Bourn says. "We give thanks to GOD for His faithfulness and his many blessings." Emanuel Church began at the Brandon Ministry...

Emanuel Christian Church UMC celebrates dedication service

One of North Alabama's new communities of faith, Emanuel Church, held its dedication service on July 12, 2008, to celebrate its move to the former Sheffield Highland UMC building.  "The leadership of the Northwest District Superintendent Mike Stonbraker has permitted us to use this wonderful place for the Spanish ministry," Pastor Mirna Bourn says. "We give thanks to GOD for His faithfulness and his many blessings." Emanuel Church began at the Brandon Ministry...

CrossWinds UMC officially launches public ministry

CrossWinds United Methodist Church officially launched its public ministry Easter weekend with a community event and worship service. CrossWinds is a new church start in the Northeast District led by the Reverends Michael and Suzanne Katschke. On Saturday,March 22, 2008, CrossWinds hosted a community-wide Easter ‘Eggstravaganza’.  More than 500 people attended the community event, which included clowns, inflatables, food, and of course, an egg hunt.  Guests registered to...

Academy for Congregational Development Graduates its Thirteenth Class

On Saturday, March 8, 2008, the Academy for Congregational Development celebrated the commissioning and sending service of its 13th class.  The Academy for Congregational Development prepares individuals, both lay and clergy, for ministry in the Postmodern Age. The Academy seeks to encourage the discovery and development of individual Spiritual Gifts, and to renew joy in the ministry God has given. Ministry in the Post-modern Age is experience-based and relational. Academy presenters...

Liberty Crossings UMC celebrates consecration of new facility

On Sunday, February 10, Liberty Crossings United Methodist Church, one of North Alabama’s new congregations, celebrated a service of Consecration for its first permanent building.  The congregation, led by Rev. Keith Elder, began worshipping in the new space in early December.   Bishop William H. Willimon preached during the Consecration Service.  South Central District Superintendent Dr. T. Michael Morgan and the North Alabama Conference Center for Congregational...