New Horizons UMC welcomes many visitors on Biker Sunday

On Sunday, February 17, 2013, New Horizons UMC in Huntsville held a biker Sunday. New Horizons pastor Rev. Alan Richardson explains, “It was a cold day with temperatures starting out as low as 20 degrees… but the bikers came by the droves in spite of the cold to hear “God’s Praise” and worship at New Horizons.” He says, “Counting the number present was hard since everyone was moving around in this standing room only situation. The best...

Centre First UMC: Celebrating a Christmas Miracle

On December 16, Centre First United Methodist Church opened its doors to people in need through “The Christmas Miracle Workshop.”  In four hours of ministry, more than 200 volunteers served more than 700 people in need.  The opportunity to serve in a big way came about through an anonymous donation the church received on November 13. Rev. John Mullaney, Centre First UMC’s pastor, said, “We received a letter and a check from a person who doesn’t...

ClearBranch UMC featured as Vibrant Church by Foundation for Evangelism

Utilizing data and interviews, The Foundation for Evangelism recently began a study of churches that experienced a 20% or more attendance growth in 5 years. The Foundation realized that the information gained from these interviews is invaluable and created an online resource for clergy and laity from across the connection who are seeking creative, successful evangelism practice ideas. This resources is called “Celebrating Vibrant Churches.” Dr. Kenneth Lambert, Director of...

Hayden area United Methodist Churches reach out to community with Ecumenical Fall Festival

This fall Hayden UMC, Smoke Rise UMC and The Beacon UMC joined with six other Hayden area churches to have a community fall festival. Rev. Ron Howard, pastor of Hayden UMC, explains, “We wanted to show our community that there was unity between the churches in our area. It was a huge success, over two thousand people showed up.” The community fall festival was held at the Hayden ball park, which is connected to both the Primary and Elementary schools. Each church took different...

Foundation of Evangelism series on vibrant churches notes key factors in growth and cites Gardendale- Mt. Vernon UMC

Front page photo from the www.gmvumc.org. The following News was posted on the Foundation of Evangelism website Sept. 9, 2010.   Focus of Call to Action Recently The Foundation for Evangelism began a popular new web series celebrating vibrant churches that have experienced a 20% or more attendance growth over 5 years. This information was gathered utilizing General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA) data and interviews by Dr. Kenneth Lambert, the Church Initiative Director...

Rethink Church campaign offers free New Testament to spiritual seekers

Nashville, Tenn.: For less than the cost of a matinee movie ticket or a couple of gallons of gas, you can place the New Testament in the hands of a spiritual seeker who has responded to The United Methodist Church’s advertisements. This is United Methodist Communications’ message to the church, as the agency begins offering the Rethink Church Edition Common English Bible (New Testament) at no cost to seekers who request it when they visit the Rethink Church campaign website,...

Vestavia Hills UMC's Mobile Recreation Ministry allows churches to reach out through play

On August 21, 2010, Vestavia Hills UMC (Central District) will celebrate 10 years of ministry in the "Lighthouse," the congregation’s Leisure Ministry building. The congregation also celebrates that during the last 10 years its leisure ministry has expanded beyond the “Lighthouse” with a mobile recreation ministry. Vestavia Hills UMC Director of Leisure Ministries Jim Frazier says, “When we built the Lighthouse, we dreamed that children from all around...

Upper Room part of World Cup evangelism

*Homepage photo A UMNS file photo by Mike DuBose. When South Africa tied Mexico in a 1-1 draw during the opening World Cup game, some young spectators watched at big-screen viewings sponsored by churches and faith-based organizations. The events were part of an effort led by an informal network called TUG – The Ultimate Goal – to “score” with soccer-mad youth. United Methodists are using the network to distribute daily devotional guides and other resources from 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...

Bishop Willimon preaching in dozens of North Alabama Churches on growth of the Kingdom of God

As part of the North Alabama Conference’s emphasis on evangelism and church growth, Bishop Willimon has recorded three sermons on DVD to be used in North Alabama congregations. All of the sermons are keyed to passages from the gospels that speak to the growth of the Kingdom of God. “My hope, in these sermons, is to highlight growth as an essential mark of a faithful congregation,” said Bishop Willimon. This spring the North Alabama Conference Cabinet made these videos...

Getting Started with Alpha one-day training Conference coming to Birmingham

Nearly every church vision statement declares that it wants to reach out to “make disciples” or “reach the lost”, but sadly the question many churches can’t seem to answer anymore is: “How?” Joyce Meyer, Bible teacher and best-selling author, says “The Alpha Course provides a place for people to ask questions and find answers. I warmly commend it to those wanting to explore deeper issues of life and faith.” The Alpha Course is one of the...

North Alabama churches offer creative Holy Week celebrations

Holy Week is a time each year when Christians reflect on the last week of the earthly life of Jesus Christ before his crucifixion on Good Friday and his resurrection on Easter Sunday. It is also a time when local churches reach out to their communities and welcome visitors who want to be part of Holy Week activities and Easter Sunday celebrations. Some North Alabama United Methodist congregations are offering creative opportunities tied in to ancient celebrations of Holy Week as a way to open...

Denman Evangelism Awards recognize clergy and laity reaching a new generation for Jesus Christ

On May 21,2009,  the North Alabama Conference recognized the Conference winners and nominees of the Denman Evangelism Awards. The 2009 Awards specifically recognized pastors and lay persons who are helping young adults experience the transforming love of God through Jesus Christ. The winners were recognized at a dinner at Canterbury UMC in Birmingham.  The Conference clergy winner was Rev. Melody Traylor who was recognized for her ministry through Discovery Ministries. ...

United Methodists to ‘Rethink Church’ on streets of NYC

New York, NY:  United Methodists in the New York area will take to the streets of the city on May 6 to execute random acts of kindness as a part of the nationwide launch of a sweeping new campaign called Rethink Church. The campaign seeks to redefine church as a verb— people taking action to better the lives of others.   More than 140 volunteers will perform random acts of kindness, including opening car doors, hailing cabs, passing out dog treats, picking up trash, handing...

Saint Andrew’s UMC Doesn’t Sleep With the Fishes

Christ continues to use the passion of fishermen and fisher-women to spread the Gospel. In response to the challenges expressed through Igniting Ministries, the congregation of  Saint Andrew’s UMC in Sylacauga is living our promise of open hearts, open minds and open doors by taking the love of Christ beyond the walls of their church building to the rivers, lakes, and streams.   The vision for this ministry became clear when Saint Andrew’s pastor, Rev. James...

Conference recognizes Denman Evangelism Award winners

On Tuesday evening, May 27, the North Alabama Conference Evangelism team held the annual Denman Evangelism Award dinner at Canterbury United Methodist Church.  During the dinner the district nominees and the three Conference award winners of the Harry Denman Evangelism award were announced. This year there were three Conference winners -- one layperson and two clergy. Director of the Center for Congregational Development Dick Freeman noted that one clergy winner serves a small church on...

Denman Evangelism Award recognizes Outstanding Evangelists

The North Alabama Conference's vision statement is Every church challenged and equipped to grow more disciples of Jesus Christ by taking risks and changing lives. On May 17, the Conference Evangelism Team held the Annual Denman Evangelism Awards dinner and recognized those clergy and laity leading each district and the conference in growing more disciples through their work in evangelism. During the dinner held at Canterbury UMC, clergy and lay nominees from each district were recognized....

Conference recognizes Outstanding Evangelists with Denman Evangelism Awards

For the last 26 years United Methodist Annual Conferences have recognized outstanding ministries of reaching others for Christ by annually presenting one clergy person and one lay person the Denman Evangelism Award. The North Alabama Conference recognized its nominees from each district and announced its 2006 winners at a banquet sponsored by the Conference Evangelism Team on May 25 at Vestavia Hills UMC.  During the celebration, the clergy award was presented to Rev. Robert Sparkman,...