Encounter 2013 in the books

Encounter 2013 is in the books and it was one for the ages. Over the weekend of February 22-24, 2013, nearly 450 youth and youth workers from North Alabama descended on the Gatlinburg Convention Center for three days of intense laughter, worship and hearing God's word. Our very own, Ben Nelson, worship leader at Discovery UMC in Hoover, led the worship opening with Like a Lion (God's Not Dead) and prayed that the Holy Spirit would fall and that God would come shake the ground...

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...

Youth Ministry Bread and Butter Training to be August 25

On Saturday, August 25, 2012, local church youth workers and student leaders will have an excellent opportunity for encouragement and training.  The second annual Youth Ministry Bread and Butter training will take place at Trinity UMC in Birmingham. North Alabama Conference Youth Coordinator Rev. Clay Farrington explains why this event is so important saying, “Armed with the belief that 99% of youth ministry happens at the local church level, training youth workers is our...

Fayette First UMC youth give back to Camp Sumatanga

At the mention of the name “Camp Sumatanga” you will see a smile come across the face of many of those who attend Fayette First UMC.  Sumatanga has made a huge impact on many lives and the congregation has a great love for the camp.  Because of that, the Fayette First UMC youth chose to serve three days at Camp Sumatanga painting, clearing trails and building a fishing pier as their mission project this summer. Dana Gilliam, Director of Youth Ministry at Fayette...

Pinson UMC youth work together to feed the hungry

On May 20, 2012, the youth of Pinson UMC hosted a Stop Hunger Now party for the Pinson congregation and local community during which volunteers packed 10,000 meals. Through the Stop Hunger Now assembly process volunteers combines rice, soy, dehydrated vegetables and a flavoring mix including 21 essential vitamins and minerals into small meal packages. These meal packages are shipped around the world to support school feeding programs and crisis relief. The food stores easily, transports...

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...

Bread and Butter training encourages and empowers youth workers

On August 27, 2011, more than 125 youth workers and youth leaders gathered at Trinity UMC in Homewood for the first Bread and Butter Youth Ministry Training. It was a day that featured Duffy Robbins as the keynote speaker plus a selection of breakout seminars led by youth leaders with a passion for their subjects and years of experience to share. Both the planning team and participants agree, the day successfully met its goal to encourage and empower youth workers who play a critical role in...

August 27 Bread and Butter training designed to encourage and empower local church youth workers

On August 27, 2011, the North Alabama Conference will host the first Bread and Butter Youth Ministry Training for youth workers and student leaders (11th and 12th grade). The day will take place at Trinity UMC in Birmingham and will feature Duffy Robbins as the keynote speaker plus a selection of breakout seminars led by leaders with a passion for their subjects and years of experience to share. The Bread and Butter training event was created to encourage and empower youth workers who...

Fultondale UMC Students to spend 21 nights under mosquito nets to end malaria

Students from Fultondale UMC (Central District) are on a mission to heal. Joining together with 11 million United Methodists, they are fighting to wipe out malaria. To raise money for Imagine No Malaria, students are asking people to make a pledge for each night a student sleeps under a mosquito net in front of the church. The effort began July 17 and the students are planning to continue until August 7. Imagine No Malaria is an effort of the people of the United Methodist Church to raise $75...

Birmingham First UMC's Discovery Weekend leads to new members

Discovery Weekend is a life-changing weekend which happens at a local church. The focus for the weekend is the Junior High students of the congregation. The weekend helps teach Junior High students about God’s love for them and that the local church also loves them and wants to help them grow in their Christian faith. During the weekend, the congregation’s own Senior High Students and Adults serve as leaders for the event. This allows the Senior High Students to learn leadership...

Upper Sand Mountain Circuit creates joint Confirmation and Membership classes

from the Mountain Lakes District News January 2011 reposted with permission The Upper Sand Mountain Circuit from the District has worked together to create a joint confirmation and membership class series to offer to our small churches. While most churches in the circuit do not have enough by themselves to offer a confirmation class, together we started a confirmation class on January 16, 2011 that currently has 19 children. Simultaneously, a membership class is offered for those already...

Mountain Lakes District youth leaders meet for training, dreaming and connecting

from the Mountain Lakes District News January 2011 reposted with permission “MONEY IS NO OBJECT! Resources are UNLIMITED! What would the perfect district youth event look like?” This is the question that over 40 youth leaders from across the district dreamed about and discussed during the Pre-Conference Networking Session last Sunday. Everything from a Christian Cruise to concerts with Jeremy Camp, Casting Crowns and Skillet was presented. Divided into small groups, they were...

Young Adults of the Scottsboro Circuit UMC plant community vegetable garden

As the young adults of the Scottsboro Circuit (Aspel, New Hope and Hollis Memorial UMCs in the Northeast District) began planning for the summer of 2010, Pastor Donna King directed the group to think about mission/outreach projects that could be done in the community. Ideas for helping several community service agencies were discussed, but one member of the group, Jason Aericko, shared his vision that the group should begin their own project that would be an outreach to the community. The...

insideOut helps churches focus on ministry outside their church doors

InsideOUT is an exciting vision that has grasped the attention of churches in both the Mountain Lakes and Cheaha Districts this summer.  This vision is leading the congregations to step outside their church doors and be in ministry to children in their community. The ministry assigns a college intern to a congregation which has formed an InsideOUT team of laity. They work together to develop a six week stint of summer ministry to children in their local community. The rule is...

North Alabama looks to future of youth ministry with Conference youth ministry assessment

To better live out the North Alabama Conference priority of Empowering a New Generation, the North Alabama Conference Office of Connectional Ministries contracted with Youth Ministry Architects to do an assessment of North Alabama Conference youth ministry as well as provide recommendations and a suggested timeline for the future of conference initiatives in youth ministry in North Alabama. On March 8-9, 2010, Mark DeVries (who was one of the featured speakers at Annual Conference 2009) and...

Encounter2010 weekend helps youth embrace fullness of the Trinity

On February 19-21, 2010, youth from across the North Alabama Conference gathered in Florence, Ala., for an intimate weekend at EncounterE3! National speaker and author Steve Case led the youth in talking about embracing the fullness of the Trinity. Worship leaders Lost and Found gave the youth incredible opportunities to come close to God in fun and inspirational ways. Hardy Kimber, a youth from Birmingham, Alabama commented, “Lost and Found was great; they led songs to help us become...

Huntsville First UMC focuses on reaching new generations through a new worship, Discovery Weekend and fundraiser participation

Huntsville First UMC kicked off its newest contemporary service of worship on August 9. “Exalt”, a name chosen for its strong biblical call and challenge to lift the name of our God in the world, began with an opening attendance of 302. The attendance at the second week’s service was 620, a number greatly helped by the youth “Discovery Weekend.” The service is placed at the 11 a.m. hour and is focused on reaching 20’s to 40’s with a mixture of...

Pell City First UMC youth serve and grow through new vision for youth ministry

written By Chrystal Henderson-Smith Pell City First UMC Youth Director Meet Oscar...he’s the guy in the picture with Pell City UMC youth Sami, Hannah, and Sam. Oscar is just one of the many wonderful people the group met during their June mission trip to Washington, D.C. This group of young people came across Oscar while hanging out at DuPont Circle. While DuPont Circle is famous for a lot of things, I bet you didn’t know that a large population of DC’s homeless call DuPont...

Wilson Chapel UMC youth assist with flag retirement

On Sunday, July 11, members of the youth group at Wilson Chapel United Methodist Church had a spontaneous opportunity for community service when they were asked to assist Gordon Hearn, chaplain for District III of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, in the transport of American Flags collected for retirement. Gordon, who also serves as the organist at Wilson Chapel UMC, says he was impressed at each youth’s knowledge of flag etiquette and the tremendous reverence each youth showed towards the...

Hazel Green UMC Youth Serve in Bahamas Methodist Habitat

Twenty-five high school and college youth from the Hazel Green United Methodist Church in the Northeast District traveled to the Caribbean island of Eleuthera for a week-long mission work trip, June 14-20.   The group was hosted by the Bahamas Methodist Habitat project, a program of the Bahamas Conference of the Methodist Church. The goal is to provide re-building from the frequent hurricanes that hit the island, and to upgrade sub-standard housing. Eleuthera is a small barrier island...