A street named Genesis

I went to place flowers on my husband's grave and grabbed an encouraging thought of where Roy is now. Well, of course I knew.  However, this reminder was precious in ways that showed me, once again, of God's tender and faithful love. The city had recently placed names on the streets that wind in and around our cemetery, and the name of Roy's road is Genesis.  

Summer camps offer fun, faith for elementary and middle-school students

Temperatures are rising in South Georgia, and with warmer weather come thoughts of vacations, beach trips and summer camps. With campers set to arrive less than two months, planning and preparation for the South Georgia Conference Summer Camps programs are well under way, says Camp Director Rev. C.J. Harp. 

Connectional Ministries sees time of transition

 June is transition time for many ministries across our Annual Conference.  The South Georgia Conference Office of Connectional Ministries is no different as we welcome Allison Lindsey and Rev. Abra Lattany-Reed who are joining our staff as Associate Directors.

Events in the South Georgia Conference - 6/15/2012 edition

Tell It!

Recently, I surfed the Apple App Store and found something that sounded like just the tool I needed to further enhance the use of my iPad for work related projects.  I purchased, downloaded and began exploring the app.  

Shortened 2012 Annual Conference session not short on fellowship, faith

Fellowship, worship, Bible study and celebration marked the 2012 South Georgia Annual Conference session, held June 3-5 at the Macon Centreplex in Macon, Ga.  Nearly 1,200 South Georgia United Methodist clergy and laity gathered together to conference in the Wesleyan tradition. Bishop James R. King, Jr., episcopal leader of the South Georgia area, presided over his fourth Annual Conference session in South Georgia. 

Q & A with Dr. Edwin M. "Buddy" Cooper, Columbus District Superintendent

I grew up in Powersville, a small community seven miles from Fort Valley and four miles from Byron, just off highway 49.  I have always lived in South Georgia and have served across the Conference.  During the past 40 years, I have served as youth director for Pittman Park United Methodist Church in Statesboro, the Crawford County Circuit, East Macon, Christ United Methodist Church in Albany, Christ United Methodist Church in Warner Robins, Waycross First United Methodist Church, Central United Methodist Church in Fitzgerald and St. Paul United Methodist Church in Columbus. 

Annual Conference hears update on new Conference Center

Attendees of the 2012 South Georgia Annual Conference session saw a presentation on the new South Georgia Conference Center and heard an update on funding from Dr. Hal Brady, chairman of the conference office task force.

Evangelism and mission awards presented at Annual Conference Session

Evangelistic awards were presented during the 2012 Annual Conference session to churches in each district which charted the largest net gain in membership, the largest number of professions of faith, and the best ratio of professions of faith with regard to membership.  

Lesson 2: Learning to rely upon the presence of God

The prophet Samuel is one of the most important and pivotal figures in Israel’s faith history. Though most are familiar with his miraculous birth to Hannah, most other details of his remarkable life get lost in the murder and mayhem that dominated in the years preceding the era of Israel’s kings. For instance, Samuel is the only person who served God as a priest, a judge, and a prophet!  Though born into the tribe of Ephraim, he is given as a foster child and apprentice to the Levitical priest Eli who instructed him in the ways of the priesthood. After the shrine at Shiloh was destroyed and Eli’s house died for their sins of corruption, Samuel served the nation as its final judge, until the time at which God instructed him to anoint Saul, and eventually David, to serve Israel as King.  His era was an era of great transition, filled with war and uncertainty, not unlike our own. And his advice to his people would stand any generation in good stead, were they to take his counsel. 

Lesson 3: Lessons in leadership shared in David's last words

What is the importance of a person’s “last words?” Have you ever had a time in your life when someone’s last words made an impression on you (i.e., words of a leader stepping out of his/her position of leadership; words of a respected person at the time of a major life transition like a graduation or at the end of a career; words of a loved one at the time of his/her death; etc.)?  

Lesson 1: God's will for God's people

Deuteronomy. Ugh. Speeches, sermons, and laws—lots and lots of laws.  You might wonder what it all has to do with you … until you read the passage before us today.  The language about God is rich and evocative, the phrasing exquisitely crafted, the call to faithfulness profoundly simple or maybe simply profound.