http://www.northalabamaumc.org/news_top.aspnothing provideden-usSat, 20 Mar 2010 23:00:00 ESTSat, 20 Mar 2010 23:00:00 ESThttp://www.northalabamaumc.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=645http://www.northalabamaumc.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=645In late 2009, a small group of United Methodist pastors spouses, created a blog called SpouseConnect which seeks to provide a safe space for the husbands and wives of pastors and others in congregational ministry to share frustrations, joys, concerns, and ideas with others who understand. Co-developer of the blogsite Kathy Armistead, a United Methodist clergy spouse from Nashville, sees SpouseConnect as reaching out and helping various categories of persons. quot;SpouseConnect was started becauMon, 29 Mar 2010 12:00:00 ESThttp://www.northalabamaumc.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=657http://www.northalabamaumc.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=657A weekend of snow and icy weather didnrsquo;t stop more than 166 participants from gathering at Camp Sumatanga for the North Alabama Conference Confirmation Retreat 2010 on January 29-30. This annual event helps local churches as they prepare students for church membership. The theme for the 2010 retreat was ldquo;Five to Thrive,rdquo; which is a reflection on the five vows of membership and the commitment that we are making to place Christ as Lord of our lives. North Alabama Conference CoordinWed, 17 Mar 2010 12:00:00 ESThttp://www.northalabamaumc.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=658http://www.northalabamaumc.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=658To 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 hisWed, 17 Mar 2010 12:00:00 ESThttp://www.northalabamaumc.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=656http://www.northalabamaumc.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=656Last month the North Alabama Conference Adult Discipleship Team sponsored the training event Successful Small Groups featuring Debi Nixon of Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas. Bishop Willimon celebrated this important training opportunity as well as the importance of small groups in his weekly message on Feb. 8, 2010.Click here to read the article Growing the Church, One Small Group at a Time. North Alabama Conference Coordinator for Children and Adult Ministries Rev. Elizabeth NalMon, 15 Mar 2010 12:00:00 ESThttp://www.northalabamaumc.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=644http://www.northalabamaumc.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=644by Melissa Hinnen, Director of Communications for UMCOR, General Board of Global Ministries What does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God mdash;Micah 6:8 (NRSV) For 70 years the people of The United Methodist Church have put the spirit of Micah 6:8 into action through the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). By hosting sojourners, assembling school kits for children around the world, buying fair-trade coffee to ensure that Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:00:00 ESThttp://www.northalabamaumc.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=655http://www.northalabamaumc.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=655Vernon 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: ldquo;What are you doing to start a new congregationrdquo; Pastor Tim Bailey says, ldquo;In answering that question one of our Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:00:00 ESThttp://www.northalabamaumc.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=654http://www.northalabamaumc.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=654Submitted by Debbie Williams, member of Hopewell UMC Ever wonder why God puts you in the places He does During a break at the 2008 North Alabama Annual Conference two members of Hopewell UMC found themselves sharing a bench in the lobby with two lay members from Hanceville UMC. That brief conversation, a time of prayerful waiting, the stirring of the Holy Spirit, and the obedience of our laity to the call of God have resulted in a new childrens ministry at Hopewell UMC in Valley, Alabama. On Tue, 9 Mar 2010 12:00:00 ESThttp://www.northalabamaumc.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=653http://www.northalabamaumc.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=653Camp Sumatanga Update While Camp Sumatanga had its challenges last year, as did many organizations during the recession, thanks to the members of the North Alabama Conference, Camp finished 2009 on a strong note. When Bob Murray reported at 2009rsquo;s Annual Conference that Camp needed $300,000 to survive past August, you responded with great love and affection for Camp. Indeed, more than $600,000 was donated to Camp during last summer and early fall. And, through an anonymous donation, Camp wThu, 4 Mar 2010 12:00:00 ESThttp://www.northalabamaumc.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=652http://www.northalabamaumc.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=652On March 2, 2010 North Alabama Conference Director of Mission and Advocacy Rev. Matt Lacey spoke with John Elmore, GBGM missionary to Chile affiliated with the North Alabama Conference by phone this morning. Here is Mattrsquo;s report of that conversation. John and his wife are currently fine. However, the earthquake has caused a childrens home in Angol to become uninhabitable and he believes that a new structure will have to be built. No children were hurt in the quake. Currently John is houWed, 3 Mar 2010 12:00:00 ESThttp://www.northalabamaumc.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=651http://www.northalabamaumc.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=651by Tim Ghianni, United Methodist General Board of Discipleship This article first appeared in Newscope, a weekly e-newsletter for United Methodist leaders, Vol. 38, Issue 4 / January 27, 2010. Morie Adams-Griffin, 34, finds much joy as pastor of Living Waters UMC in Belgrade, Montana. But he knew he needed the kind of help offered at the inaugural Path1 Coaching Forum. He not only attended that three days of training and fellowship, he became what New Church Strategist Gary Shockley calls ldquTue, 2 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST