A Fantastic Investment
Invest in a Life. That’s the theme for a new mentoring program at Greenville FMC that pairs church volunteers and Greenville College students — a pairing that’s been optimal for learning and life transformation, on both sides.

Peggy Riley, wife of Greenville’s pastor, Darrel, has created a set of highly effective mentor training materials covering spiritual formation, personal growth and leadership Full Story...

Innovative Ministry in Oklahoma
Church planting is a priority in the Mid-America Conference, where traditional and not-so-traditional approaches are yielding great results.

Here are several examples:
In Tulsa, OK, Pastor Danny Grimes leads a nontraditional plant that reaches its community in a variety of creative ways and is entirely focused Full Story...

The Oldest Disciple?
Jo Parnell of the Olney FMC (IL) turned 105 on Feb. 18. She attends church regularly, maintained her driver’s license until she turned 103, and is a member of the seniors Sunday school class. Teacher Gerald R. Miller says, “I find it very exciting to have her as one of my students. In fact, I suspect that I teach the only Sunday school class in the country with a 105-year-old student.” We’re never too old to study God’s Word. Visit our Web site to see more pictures of Jo’s recent birthday celebration with her Sunday school class. Read about Jo's life ...

New Facility in Northern Ireland
A new facility for Park Avenue FMC (Belfast, Northern Ireland) will allow the growing church to expand current programs and develop new ones. Despite damage to its existing building by vandals, and the resultant low morale of the congregation, Pastor Norman and Ruth Morrell have been able to turn things around since coming to the church several years ago. Full Story...

From West Virginia to India
A team of five from the West Virginia Conference traveled to India in January to assist with two pastoral family retreats: Pastor Paul Morris Jr. (Rivesville FMC — raised in India and a longtime missionary to India himself), John Conaway (retired college administrator), Betty Fast (a nurse), Pastor Paul Sterneman (conference superintendent), and his wife, Anne. Pastor Doug Vogel (Winona Lake FMC, IN, Wabash Conference) joined the team for the second retreat. Full Story...

Good News in Gilbert
God has something He wants to do here, through us,” says Pastor Glenn Lorenz of Light & Life Christian Church, an FM plant in Gilbert, AZ, near Phoenix. Lorenz, a graduate of Asbury Theological Seminary and former assistant pastor at Foothill Community FMC (Oroville, CA), arrived in Gilbert in late 2003. He and his wife, Wendy, initially met with several members of a recently closed Free Methodist church in Mesa, added several others and began to build relationships — first Full Story...

Totally Cellular
With the goal of preparing and equipping efficient cell leaders with the ability to win lives for Christ, Pastor Dave and Julie Haydu are multiplying cell groups like crazy in Green, OH, several miles from Akron. This church plant, Believers Fellowship, has five cells, with more on the way — cells for men, women, couples, cell leaders and potential leaders. … And Dave is mentoring/ discipling at least one young couple — challenging them to grow in their faith and find Full Story...

Coffee Divas and Prayer Pillows
What happens when a children’s pastor and a group of “coffee divas” join hands? At Cedarcrest FMC (Bloomington, MN), 130 4-by-6-inch prayer pillows were created — pillows given to children to remind them to pray each night. A small pocket in each pillow makes a perfect place to tuck in a devotional reading, a list of prayer requests, a take-home Sunday school paper … . Click here for more information (including step-by-step instructions for making your own.)

Released for the Harvest
Step forward and stretch out your hand. That’s what Jesus said in Mark 3:5 to a man in need of healing. Now, it’s this year’s theme at New Vision Fellowship (Forestville, MD). Following several years of transforming relationships within the church, Pastor Kenny Martin is encouraging his congregation to redirect its focus outward, to the neighborhood. One result of the refocus is a church plant in Washington, D.C., called “New Vision in the City.” Full Story...