Dr. Rick Lanford, NCD Superintendent August 2019 Newsletter Bishop Lawson Bryan-Episcopal

Leader P.O. Box 18169, Macon 31209 P.O. Box 7227, Macon 31209

Phone: 478-254-6023 Fax: 478-254-6230 Phone: 478-475-9286 Fax: 478-475-9248

Email: rick@sgaumc.com

2019 North Central District Camp Meeting

Thanks to all the speakers and volunteers who helped to make this year’s Camp meeting a big success. Special thanks goes to Rev. Jared Middleton who served as the Camp Director. The Dublin or Adrian Camp meeting now known as the North Central District Camp meeting started under Rev. Billy Key back in 1982. Pictured above is this year’s recipient of the “Shurling Award”, Amie Loyd receiving it from Mr. Jack Shurling and Mr. Phillip Lord. We are truly, “Alive Together in the Witness” by continuing this tradition of holding Camp meeting services at the Nazarene Camp Ground in Adrian, Georgia.

Congratulations to Bishop Bryan and Sherrill on the birth of their granddaughter, Caroline Cooper Bryan, “Cece”, who was born July

26th.

Register today for Pathways!

Mark your calendars now for the 2019 Pathways event, August 24. Pathways is geared to equip, inspire, and encourage pastors and laity in faith and in ministry! We have more than 30 workshops to choose from, ranging from leadership development, new ministry ideas, social justice, spiritual growth, and more. There's something for everyone! Visit sgaumc.org/pathways for more information, a downloadable brochure with workshop descriptions, a registration link, and a bulletin insert to share in your local church!

13 Methodist Home residents baptized!

Ten of The Methodist Home's young people made public professions of faith through baptism last week, at the pool, in the rain! Three additional teens were also baptized Saturday at the lake. We are so proud of these 13 boys and girls who have chosen to dedicate their life in faith to Jesus Christ. To God be the glory! Special thanks to Brandon Tolle from the Macon Wesley Foundation and Dr. Rick Lanford, Superintendent of the North Central District, for, joining the day and leading the young people.

DISTRICT MEETINGS

2019-2020

DATE: LOCATION: August 3 UMW NCD @ Centerville UMC

August 7 10:00am – 1:00pm Clergy Coordinator Meeting @ Riverside UMC

August 24 9:00am - Pathways @ Trinity UMC, Warner Robins

Sept. 11 Board of Missions Grants Due

Sept. 12 11:30am – 1:00pm NCD Trustees Meeting @ The Methodist Home

Sept. 14 UMW District Meeting @ Martha Bowman UMC

Sept. 16-20 Cabinet Meeting

Sept. 24 11:30am – 1:00pm Board of Missions Meets @ Mulberry Street UMC

Sept. 26 10:00am – 4:00pm Sexual Ethics Workshop @ Tifton First UMC, Tifton, GA

Sept. 26 11:30am NCD Leadership Team Meeting @ Riverside UMC

October 3 6:00 pm Evening of Hope @ The Methodist Home

October 11-12 7:00pm – 9:00pm Lay Speaker Training-Advanced & Basic @ Pine Hill UMC

October 13 4:00pm – 5:30pm Charge Conference-Mission Area III @ Pine Forest UMC

October 20 4:00pm – 5:30pm Charge Conference-Mission Area IV @ Gray UMC

October 24 6:00pm Wesley Glen Banquet

October 30 10:00am – 4:00pm Cabinet & UM Commission @ Emory

November 3 4:00pm – 5:30pm Charge Conference-Mission Area II @ Warner Robins First

November 10 4:00pm – 5:30pm Charge Conference-Mission Area I @ Forest Hills UMC

Nov. 26-29 District Office closed for Thanksgiving Break

December 2 10:00am – 3:00pm District Committee on Ordained Ministry @ Riverside UMC

December 3 6:00 pm District Christmas Party @ Riverside UMC

December 18-Jan. 1 District Office closed for Christmas Break

January 12 2:00pm – 5:30pm Leadership Tour @ Warner Robins First UMC

January 26-29 Winter Conference @ Epworth By The Sea

Jan. 31 – Feb. 1 6:00 pm Lay Speaking Academy-Advanced & Basic @ Crossroads UMC

February 6 11:30am – 1:00pm NCD Leadership Team Meeting @ Riverside UMC

February 13 11:30am – 1:00pm NCD Trustees Meeting @ The Methodist Home

February 17-21 Cabinet Session I

February 20 10:00am – 4:00pm Sexual Ethics @ Pittman Park UMC, Statesboro, GA

February 24-28 Cabinet Session II

March 1-3 Confirmation Retreat @ Epworth By The Sea

March 2-4 Board of Ordained Ministry

March 9-13 Cabinet Session III

March 13-15 Clergy Spouse’s Retreat @ Epworth By The Sea

March 16-20 Cabinet Session IV & Cabinet Retreat

March 23-27 Cabinet Session V

March 29 4:00pm – 5:30pm District Conference @ Vineville UMC

April 21 10:00am – 4:00pm Sexual Ethics @ Vineville UMC, Macon, GA

May 5-15 General Conference

May 20 Moving Pastor’s Workshop – Location TBA

May 21 Ordinand’s Luncheon

June 7-10 Annual Conference – Columbus Convention and Trade Center,

Columbus, GA

June 17 Pastor’s Moving Day

June 22 5:00pm – 7:00pm District Set-Up Meeting @ The Methodist Home

Our Connection Matters: This is My Story!

Our Connection Matters offers a toolkit which includes a wealth of resources focusing on a different theme to resource your local church in nurture, outreach, witness and advocacy ministries.

Our new Annual Conference theme is "Alive Together In Witness." It is through our witness that we are truly Alive Together in Christ - in worship and in the world. These themes are so very interwoven! Why is the word "evangelism" so intimidating for many and sharing our faith so scary for some? Is it fear of rejection, not having all the answers, or fear of ridicule? This edition offers resources to equip and inspire us to step out of our comfort zone and share our faith! Pathways Event - August 24 Evangelism and witnessing will be a highlight during this year's Pathways event set for August 24 at Trinity UMC in Warner Robins. Participants will find practical tools and inspiration to equip clergy and laity in all areas of ministry and spiritual growth. Click here for more information, a full list of workshops, bulletin insert and to register! Back To School Resources It's almost "Back To School" time again! Be sure and check out our archived edition covering all things "Back To School." _________________________________________

Witness: This is My Story! We hope the resources below will help jumpstart your planning and give you new ideas both for your individual faith journey and for the ways in which we engage in ministry together. Deep Dive: The Barna Group has been conducting and analyzing primary research to understand cultural trends related to values, beliefs, attitudes and behaviors since 1984. What Non-Christians want from faith conversations.

N U R T U R E

• Kindness Is The New Evangelism • How to Encourage Children To Share Their Faith • Four Characteristics of Biblical Evangelism • Evangelism is one of the Spiritual Gifts. Discover your spiritual gifts. • What it means to Witness: Honoring our United Methodist Vow • Tips for Creative Faith Sharing

O U T R E A C H Outreach and Evangelism go hand in hand! Here are some insights into the local churches' impact for sharing faith in our communities along with meeting needs.

• 7 Simple Mindsets That Unlock Outreach Potential • Your Best Outreach Programs Are Already In Place. You just don't know it! • See All The People: Evangelism begins with seeing all the people God has called us to reach

in the world. Discipleship Ministries provides resources and teaching tools with #seeallthepeople. It begins with relationships!

W I T N E S S

• What Does Evangelism Look Like in a Digital, Social Media Age? • 6 Keys To Sharing The Gospel in a Pluralistic Culture • Welcoming Is the Top Factor in Church Choice • Evangelism: 12 Things Learned From The Fastest Growing Churches • Faith-Sharing: Easy as 1-2-3 • Cokesbury offers many evangelism resources and studies. • World Methodist Evangelism Institute

A D V O C A C Y Do you have a desire to be more engaged in Advocacy work through The United Methodist Church in 2019? Here is what you can do.

• Called to be Neighbors & Witnesses

T E L L U S W H A T Y O U W A N T T O K N O W Connectional Ministries is here to help resource you in all areas of ministry and programming. Contact Allison Lindsey if you would like to share ideas and connect with other churches successful in specific areas of ministry. It's through our connection that we can learn best practices and help each other bear fruit for discipleship and be Alive Together In The World!

For all disaster response related information, including ERT protocols and cleaning

bucket drop-off locations, visit

www.sgaumc.org/disasterresponse.

South Georgia UMs Still Assisting in Disaster Recovery; Conference Receives

UMCOR Grant

When Hurricane Michael struck Southwest Georgia last October, it left a path of destruction and devastation that’s still being felt.

But thanks to countless volunteers, case managers, organizations, and others, United Methodists in South Georgia are undertaking recovery efforts for those affected.

Sherry Buresh is currently serving as a Disaster Recovery Coordinator working specifically in the Southwest District coordinating long term recovery efforts for those impacted by Hurricane Michael. Her position is a one year recovery project and is funded through the connection by an UMCOR grant.

Last month the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) also provided South Georgia with a $720,000 grant for Hurricane

Michael recovery. The grant is part of some $27.6 million in funds authorized April 11 by UMCOR’s board of directors for U.S. and international disaster response, sustainable development and global migration projects, and support for denominational hospitals and health boards through the Global Health unit. Read more

Needs right now: Clean-up teams - Register your team here Financial giving - Click here for ways to give

DATES TO REMEMBER

Sept. 13-15, 2019 The Art of Marriage Live

Fall in love all over again. Marriage, the way God intended, is a true art form. In The Art of Marriage

Live, our FamilyLife guest hosts weave together expert teaching, real-life stories, humorous vignettes

and more to portray both the challenges and the beauty of God’s design. They’ll show us how to apply

what the Bible teaches about marriage in a powerful way. It’s practical, funny and straight to the heart.

Guest speakers: Jose and Michelle Alvarez

Flyer:

Alvarez Bio: Schedule:

Sept. 23-26, 2019 Autumn Adventures: With Respect and Honor

The Coastal Heritage Society, the Massie Heritage Center, the Coastal Georgia Historical Society and Fort Frederica National Monument invite you to experience a unique “hands on” history lesson. Spend

one day in Savannah and another on St. Simons Island. Learn about 3 centuries of history as you visit

the World War II Home Front Museum; St. Simons Lighthouse Museum; Fort Frederica National

Monument; Christ Church, Frederica; Massie Heritage Center; Georgia State Railroad Museum;

Battlefield Memorial Park and the Savannah History Museum.

Brochure:

Agenda:

Online Registration:

Lake Junaluska to offer Marriage Enrichment Retreats

LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. — Beginning this fall, Lake Junaluska will offer three-day marriage enrichment retreats.

The faith-based retreats will teach couples how to forge stronger relationships through meaningful conversation. Ned Martin, an expert in marriage counseling, will lead the retreats.

“There is real value in taking time, going on retreat, having no distractions and being able to focus solely on that person to whom you’ve committed your life,” said Martin, who has both a Master of Divinity and a Master of Arts in Counseling. “You can open up to them and receive them in a way that’s so hard to do in the day-to-day hustle and bustle of life.”

By using emotionally focused therapy for couples, Martin will explain the psychology of successful relationships and guide couples through a series of conversations designed to help them connect.

According to Martin, not only will couples experiencing marital stress learn from the retreats, but couples who are stable but seeking to strengthen their bond will also benefit.

Currently, four different sessions are available, starting in September 2018 with the last scheduled retreat in September 2019. Couples will receive lodging, meals, counseling sessions and plenty of peace and quiet to reconnect with each, surrounded by the beauty of the Appalachian Mountains at Lake Junaluska.

“Our setting provides a perfect place to step away from the busy-ness of life and focus on strengthening relationships with loved ones,” said Mitzi Johnson, Lake Junaluska director of programming. “Our staff take care of all the little things so that couples can spend their energy learning to communicate well.”

Pricing for each couple combined is $699, including two nights of lodging, access to Lake Junaluska recreation and five meals. Registration and more information is available at www.lakejunaluska.com/marriage or by calling 800-222-4930.

Lake Junaluska is a place of Christian hospitality where lives are transformed through renewal of soul, mind and body. For more information about Lake Junaluska programs and events, visit www.lakejunaluska.com.

Retreat Dates

- March 10-12, 2019 August 18-20, 2019 September 29-Oct. 1, 2019

Learn More:

AUGUST

7 Wayne Anthony 7 Carol Sizemore(S) 6 Craig & Mary

Louise Hutto

8 Anthony McPhail 8 Flo Martin(S) 7 Vivia & Richard

Fowler

9 Creede Hinshaw 13 Lois Henry(S) 9 Lowery &

Diane Brantley

13 Wendy Jones(S) 14 Randall Smith 10 Frank & Ginger

Morris

15 Patricia Oliver 16 Mary Louise Hutto(S) 11 Jeff & Juli

Alligood

16 Trisha Lanning 19 Jeffery Seeley 13 Jared

& Robin Middleton

20 Vivia Fowler 20 Cleo Gilchrist 14 Marcus &

Jan Tripp

20 Beverly King(S) 21 Ted Goshorn 16 Richard & Trisha

Lanning

22 Steve Waldorf 24 Sam Lamback 21 Tim & Sally

Hemingway

24 Cheryl Roach 26 Jack Varnell 22 Anthony &

Emma McPhail

29 Emma McPhail 30 Kim Lanford(S) 22 Steve & Rozelle

Rumford

31 Jimmy Asbell 28 Tim & Susan

Bagwell

29 Kevin & Laurie

Clotfelter

30 Gary & Leighann

Griffin

Children’s Birthdays

Kinley Cook Jeff & Sandra Cook August 1 Wesley Hagan Kirk & Robin Hagan August 14 Veronica Perkins Tommy & Caroline Perkins August 15 Emerson Gale Josh & Brittany Gale August 17 Titus Webb Wes & Shayna Webb August 19 Brice Norman Julia & Audie Norman August 22 Antonie Walker, II Antonie & Nicole Walker August 29

Rev. Larry Sauls is home continuing to recover. Rev. Jackie Thomas’s nephew Jared Jordan.

EVANGELISM REPORT

June 2019

CHURCH NAME BEGINNING

MEMBERSHIP AVG.

COMBINED

ATTENDANCE

MEMBERS

ADDED

MEMBERS

REMOVED

AVG. SMALL

GROUP

ATTENDANCE

ABBEVILLE 141 41 0 0 44

LIBERTY HILL 20 14 0 0 10

ALLENTOWN 63 24 0 0 15

DANVILLE 4 9 0 0 10

WESLEY CHAPEL 67 24 0 0 14

ANDREW 241 80 1 0 111

BETHEL

LINTON

PLEASANT GROVE

BONAIRE 497 290 0 1 170

BREWTON 17 28 0 0 5

BOILING SPRINGS 48 30 0 0 42

LOVETT 14 29 0 0 0

THOMAS CHAPEL 6 25 0 0 0

BUCKHORN 189 102 2 0 63

CARTER’S

CHAPEL

5 6 0 0 0

CENTENARY 303 289 1 0 46

CENTERVILLE 322 150 0 0 11

BENEVOLENCE 4 7 0 0 7

OAK GROVE 29 11 0 0 0

CHRIST 277 115 1 0 24

COCHRAN FIRST 241 67 0 0 11

LONGSTREET 11 10 0 0 7

CORINTH 86 45 0 1 22

CROSSROADS 330 134 0 0 115

DAVISBORO

NEW HOPE

DEEPSTEP

DEXTER 45 18 0 0 8

DUBLIN FIRST 986 214 2 2 115

DUDLEY 74 48 0 0 9

EASTMAN FIRST 356 127 2 0 52

ELKO 5 19 0 0 0

SNOW 29 24 0 0 7

GROVANIA 13 24 0 0 0

EVERGREEN 88 20 0 0 20

FOREST HILLS 766 473 0 0 307

GETHSEMANE

GORDON 191 59 0 0 27

GRAY 879 295 0 1 180

CLINTON 145 49 0 2 0

HADDOCK 37 16 1 0 0

SUNSHINE 73 38 2 0 15

HARVEST 1023 1933 7 17 461

HAWKINSVILLE

FIRST

363 138 0 0 162

CHURCH NAME BEGINNING

MEMBERSHIP AVG.

COMBINED

ATTENDANCE

MEMBERS

ADDED

MEMBERS

REMOVED

AVG. SMALL

GROUP

ATTENDANCE

HERITAGE AT

HOUSTON

94 67 0 0 21

HERITAGE 393 90 1 0 67

HOWARD CHAPEL

IRWINTON-

TOOMSBORO

55 23 0 0 4

SALEM 12 16 0 0 0

JEFFERSONVILLE

ASBURY

JOYCLIFF

SMITH CHAPEL

LAUREL BRANCH

LIBERTY 490 206 2 2 140

LIZELLA 305 102 0 0 62

MARTHA BOWMAN 933 384 0 1 268

MONTROSE 9 9 0 0 0

MOORE’S CHAPEL 6 7 0 0 5

BETHEL 36 16 0 0 14

MULBERRY

STREET

1211 240 0 31 100

NUEVA VIDA

NORTHVIEW

PARK MEMORIAL 96 34 0 0 15

PERRY 1468 352 2 1 170

PINE FOREST 823 250 0 2 338

PINE HILL 60 30 0 0 11

PINEY MOUNT 167 50 0 4 31

PITTS CHAPEL

RIVERSIDE 457 138 11 2 195

ROCHELLE

PITTS

ROCKLEDGE

MIDWAY

ROGERS 58 19 0 0 9

SANDERSVILLE 441 142 0 0 60

SHURLINGTON 37 26 0 1 29

SWIFT CREEK 83 30 0 0 12

TABERNACLE

TENNILLE

TRINITY 1161 178 6 0 126

LUCY CHAPEL 17 8 0 0 0

PROSPECT 49 23 0 1 14

VINEVILLE 1288 420 0 2 611

WARNER ROBINS

FIRST

638 239 3 3 136

WESLEY 234 81 0 0 72

ARLINE-BETHEL

MAPLE SPRINGS

WESLEY CHAPEL

PINEY MOUNT

WRIGHTSVILLE

FIRST

132 55 0 0 23