Posts by tag: umcsc

By Jessica Brodie. What do South Carolina United Methodists want to know about General Conference, and how can the South Carolina delegation help? That’s the purpose of four 2020 General Conference Delegation Listening Sessions, being scheduled for January and February in districts across the state.

By Jessica Brodie. Using their building to host mission teams was not part of Aldersgate UMC, Charleston’s, ministry plan. But God had other ideas. It all started a few years ago when the South Carolina Conference of the UMC needed a place for a disaster recovery volunteer to stay while he coordinated construction efforts in the area. Aldersgate UMC had the empty space, said pastor the Rev. Erik Grayson, so they offered it on a short-term basis. It was just supposed to be temporary. Now, the church has decided to fully embrace this new plan God has for them, launching what they have called Holy City Mission.

By Jessica Brodie. Year-end apportionment giving is looking good for The United Methodist Church in South Carolina. As of Nov. 15, the apportionment collection percentage is running close to 2018 with 69.7 percent collected this year compared to 70.4 percent this time last year. That translates to $12.4 million collected so far of the budgeted $17.8 million for 2019.

By Jessica Brodie. Eighteen months ago, many thought Bramlett UMC, Gray Court, was like an hourglass quickly running out of sand. Once thriving and filled with large farming families who lived nearby, the small rural church in the Upstate had dwindled to 20 people on Sunday mornings. But now the church has more than 100 active members—including a children’s and youth group. “It went from a flatline on the operating table to being a church that’ll survive,” said the Rev. John Fahrney, Bramlett’s pastor. “A lot of country churches are dying, but this one is growing.”

By Jessica Brodie. It took building new walls for one church—Shiloh UMC, Gilbert—to realize tearing down walls is really what God’s church is all about.

A group of United Methodist runners in the Upstate laced up recently to raise funds for two local charities. The team, comprising people from Mount Zion United Methodist Church, Central, plus a few others outside the church, participated in the Spinx Run Fest in Greenville Saturday, Oct. 26.

On Friday, Nov. 15, volunteers gathered from across the state to build a special love project in the form of a wheelchair ramp for Trinity United Methodist Church in the Orangeburg District. This was no ordinary project. It was inspired by Robert Jackson of Trinity UMC, who has been remodeling much of the interior at Trinity from major termite and water damage for more than one and a half years, doing the work basically by himself with some help from a Baptist pastor. By Billy Robinson.

This year, St. Paul United Methodist Church, Greenville, gave its former fall festival a makeover, transforming it into a Fall Block Party designed to serve as an outreach to families all over the community. The festival had been designed primarily for families and kids inside of the church, but the block party is designed for families outside of the church.

By the Rev. Clyde Scott BLYTHEWOOD—Two years ago, Janet Clark came to me and discussed the possibility of establishing a quilt ministry at Trinity United Methodist Church. She explained how…

By Jessica Brodie. When Harry White learned one of his fellow church members could not go home from assisted living because the man couldn’t access the house in his wheelchair, his heart was stirred. Immediately, White and other church members knew what had to be done. “We need to build a ramp for him if we’re ever going to get him back home again,” said White, a member of St. John United Methodist Church, Lynchburg. Now, White and others in the district have a drive to build even more ramps for people with accessibility troubles.

By Laura Camby McCaskill. One pastor has a passion to reach the unreached with new options for those who come to worship. Dr. Clay Faulk and his wife, the Rev. Beth Faulk, have been serving Lee Road United Methodist Church, Taylors, since 2017. Now, with the help of the Greenville District and other community and church support, they and a team of others have raised the funds to convert a gym next door into a new worship space they call “Connect Church.”

By Jessica Brodie. South Carolina church leaders eager to dig deeper into what church truly is and discover new ways to bring others into the flock will gather again this month, Nov. 16, to take their ideas to the next level.

COLUMBIA—Washington Street United Methodist Church recognized the 40th anniversary of its Soup Cellar Oct. 20. The recognition was held in the fellowship hall of the church immediately following the 11…

By Jessica Brodie. A United Methodist pastor, the Rev. Walter C. Ballenger III, has had his charges dismissed and his record expunged after spending the last four years fighting to clear his name. Now, he is hopeful his clean record will help him get reappointed as a pastor.

The recent Bishop L. Jonathan Holston Golf Tournament held at the Orangeburg Country Club Sept. 30 raised more than $22,000, which will benefit Africa University and students throughout the African continent. By William Hamilton.

It’s been 13 years, and The Lord’s Ladle Café soup kitchen at Goose Creek United Methodist Church is still going strong.