Northwest District Office The United Methodist Church 1022 B - Second Avenue Columbus, Georgia 31901 Phone 706-561-4541 Edwin M.(Buddy) Cooper, Jr. District Superintendent R. Lawson Bryan, Bishop Dooly Campmeeting Welcome Service and Reception for September 25-28 Bishop and Mrs. Bryan September 25: 11:00 a.m.&7:00 p.m. September 18, 2016, 4:00 p.m. September 26-28: 7:00 p.m. Mulberry Street UMC, Macon Preacher: John Ed Mathieson Located 3 miles west of Vienna just Sunday, September 18, the Conference will host a off Georgia Highway 90. welcome service and reception for South Georgia’s new episcopal family, Bishop R. Lawson Bryan and Mrs. Sherrill Bryan. District Cares and All are invited and encouraged to attend. Concerns More information will be forthcoming. Our sympathy to Annette Pollock and _______________________________________________________ family on the death of Gaston on August 10, 2016 at Columbus Hospice House. Funereal Services were August The HealthFlex Exchange Will Be Available 2017 13 at St. Luke UMC with private burial at Parkhill Cemetery. Please keep in your prayers Mike and This is not a Public Exchange, but a way that the General Board of Mildred McAfee as he recovers from Pensions & Health Benefits and South Georgia have arranged to s u r g e r y a t M . D . A n d e r s o n i n provide you with: More options, more flexibility, more support, Houston,TX. They have received good same wellness incentives, same award winning wellness programs, test results from the surgery and he is same provider networks, same health plan partners, and same cost to cancer free again. They will be returning local church. to Columbus in 6-9 days. Schedule of workshops with “Need-to-Know” information October 6, Please keep in your prayers Landry 7, and 8. Isom, 5 month old son of Lauren Isom (Columbus CF&A), who had heart surgery at Egleston Childrens Hospital Thursday, October 6, 2016 on August 19. Columbus: 9:30-11:30 a.m., Living Grace UMC, 3969 Edgewood Circle, Columbus, GA ✝ Albany: 2:00-4:00 p.m., Porterfield UMC, 2200 Dawson Road, James Gaston Pollock Albany, 31707 July 9, 1931 - August 10, 2016 Valdosta: 7:00-9:00 p.m., Park Avenue UMC, 100 E Park Avenue, Valdosta, GA 31602 Gaston served St. John UMC and Friday, October 7, 2916 Stripling Terrace UMC in the former Jesup: Jesup First UMC, 205 E Cherry Street, Jesup, GA 31598 Columbus District. For the past 16 years Savannah: 2:00-4:00 p.m., Richmond Hill UMC, 9050 Ford he was director of the Samaritan Fund Avenue, Richmond Hill, GA 31324 Outreach Program at St. Luke UMC. Saturday, October 8, 2016 Swainsboro: 09:340-11:30 a.m., Calvary UMC, 4321 S Main Street, Swainsboro, GA 30401 Northwest District Office Macon: 2:00-4:00 p.m., Centenary UMC, 1290 College Street, P. O. Box 430, Columbus, GA Macon, GA 31201 31902 Open Enrollment/Election period: November 2-17, 2016 1022B-Second Avenue, Columbus, GA www.gbophb.org telephone 706-561-4541 and log into HealthFlex WebMD D.S. cell telephone 706-315-1883 To prevent a common last minute problem, be sure that you are District Office Hours: registered and that you know your log-in information with WebMD Monday - Thursday prior to November 2. 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Northwest District Newsletter September 2016 Page !1 2016 Fall Schedule for Northwest District Put these on your calendar and get your people excited about attending where they are invited. We are seeking to inspire our United Methodist Men with two rallies in the district this fall. Even if you do not have a UMM group, get some of your men together and come enjoy the fellowship, the meal, and the inspiration and challenge to become the men of God we’re called to be for the sake of others. Pick the event most convenient and reserve your men’s place at the table. We are seeking to equip our churches to witness and testify in effective and winsome ways. I will be using many of the resources of Dr. Jim Hollis in our time together. His LRE Ministry--Learning, Relating, and Encouraging--is being effectively used at Wynnton UMC in Columbus right now! Reserve a place for you and your key laity at the event most convenient for you and your people. The other dates relate to the welcome and greeting of our new Episcopal leader, Bishop Lawson Bryan. Please make this a priority in your fall season and get excited about bringing your people to the events. See attached and publicize! Sincerely excited about this fall, Buddy Cooper Northwest District Newsletter September 2016 Page !2 MINISTER OF THE NORTHWEST DISTRICT Put these dates on your calendar and make your reservations. (Of course, your appointment with me and your charge or cluster conference) September 18, 4:00 p.m. Welcome of Bishop Bryan to South Georgia at Mulberry UMC, Macon. (Bring your lay leader, or a key leader, and his or her spouse with you) CHOOSE ONE United Methodist Men's gatherings (reservations required) (If you are a member of a local UMC you are a Methodist Man!) I. October 3, 2016, 6:30, Americus First UMC Supper provided at our expense ($8-$10) Theme of program: “Witnessing and Testifying” (SGC Theme for 2016-17) Lead by Buddy Cooper and Eddie Middleton II.October 17, 2016, 6:30, Wynnton UMC Supper provided at our expense ($8-$10) Theme: “Witnessing and Testifying” Lead by Buddy Cooper and Eddie Middleton October 23, 2016 8:30 a.m. Bishop Bryan preaching at St. Paul UMC 11:00 Bishop Bryan preaching at St. Luke UMC October 24, 2016 10:30 a.m.-Lunch Bishop Bryan meeting with NW Ministers at Ellaville UMC Lunch provided by district. (reservations required) 6:30 p.m. Bishop Bryan meeting with the NW Laity at Americus First UMC CHOOSE ONE 2016-17 Conference Theme Workshops: “Witnessing and Testifying” November 6, 2016, 2:00-400 at Americus First UMC November 13, 2016, 2:00-4:00 at St. Mary's Road UMC Northwest District Newsletter September 2016 Page !3 Connectional Ministries Welcomes New Leader Rev. Earnestine Campbell joins the Connectional Ministries team as associate director after having served as associate pastor of South Columbus United Methodist Church for the past two years. A passionate teacher and preacher, Rev. Campbell earned a bachelor’s degree in human resources from Troy University in Troy, Ala. and worked in human resources management prior to entering full-time ministry. She is currently pursuing a master’s of divinity degree from Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta. Rev. Campbell’s ministry focus is on the Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century, missions and will work with the Advocacy Team, as well as other responsibilities. INTERFAITH SERVICE OF MEMORY, HOPE, AND ACTION 15th Anniversary of September 11 SEPTEMBER 11, 4:00 P.M. ST. LUKE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH There will be a mass choir under the direction of Mr. Rick McKnight (rehearsal 10:00 a.m.-noon on Saturday, September 10 in the Ministry Center) in which everyone is welcome to participate. If you have questions and to respond to let them know you will be there, please contact: Cindy Garrard, Minister of Program, St. Luke UMC, PO Box 867, Columbus 31902, 706-327-4343. United Methodist Men’s Supper and Meeting Celebrating Conference Theme of “Testifying and Witnessing” October 3, 2016, 6:30 p.m. Americus First UMC and October 17, 6:30 p.m. (identical service) Wynnton UMC This will be an important meeting with inspiration from Eddie Middleton formerly of Newsong and sharing about our witness in the community. I need you to bring a group of your men to join us at the meeting closest to your church. The two meetings are acknowledgement of how large our district is! I need to know of your support and the number you will bring. We will each pay for our own supper (probably $7- $9) but the program will be provided by the district. This is an opportunity to get a few of your men excited about their leadership in our church and in our world. Let me know how many are coming from your church or charge by September 15. Thank you for all you do in Christ’s service. Buddy Lifeline Ministries, Inc. Lifeline Ministries is a primary mission partner with the SGC UMMen. The church growth in China, Nuevo Leon, Mexico is our next project. The church has outgrown the original wood building. Our plan is to send the money for the floor and walls. The local church will build these out of concrete and block. Lifeline will send the team to build the roof and finish the building. Could you be a part of this by helping with materials? If we all help it is going to be done this fall. Donald E. Rhodes, SGC UMMen President 478-397-0440. Lifeline Ministries, Inc. 525 S. West St., Bainbridge, GA 39819, Office 229-228-5051. www.lifelineministries.com, Email: [email protected] Northwest District Newsletter September 2016 Page !4 Church Leader Training Opportunities There are leadership training resources available to help new leaders become acquainted with their roles: “Guidelines” that has a booklet for each church position can be purchased as one set or individually. SGC Leadership Training Archived Webinars. Visit to find archived webinars around the following topics presented by leaders in the South Georgia Conference: Local Church Treasurer 101-Derek McAleer; Lay Leader-Lois Duncan; PPRC/SPRC- Tommy Martin; Trustees-Warren Plowden; Finance-Jimmy Cason Job Descriptions: Discipleship Ministries also has local church officer job descriptions and other resources available for many UMC positions.