Warm Hearts, Warm Welcome
“I’m impressed with our people,” says Pastor Rickey Reed of Smyrna FMC (TN). “They have the greatest impact on our visitors,” he adds. “Everyone feels such love.” In fact, many visitors say they’ve never felt so welcome at church.

According to Reed, Smyrna FMC is filled with committed people who are always ready to help and give. Fundraisers sponsored by the women have provided monies to redo the Full Story...

Full Speed Ahead
Pastor Arnold Doi of New Life Christian Church (Glendale, CA) read Bobb Biehl’s Masterplanning and Stephen Macchia’s Becoming a Healthy Church, then contacted Macchia to ask for a coach. As a result, the church’s leadership is meeting regularly with Warren Schuh, who is helping them rethink staff and ministry structures. Changes are in the works.

New Life is combining its ministries, under a spiritual Full Story ...

This Old Church
How does a smaller, older church impact the dramatically changing community growing up around it? “First, you focus on spiritual formation and church health,” says Pastor Kurt Erhard of Spencerville FMC (MD). “Growth will come.” And he’s not just talking about numerical growth.

“We’re examining what it means to be a follower of Christ,” he says. A strong identity (107 years at this location) Full Story ...

The Best Show in Town
Fayette Community Church (AL) began renting a former movie house in 1998, eventually refurbishing its main theatre into a 180-seat sanctuary, and the two others into areas for infants, children and youth, fellowship and offices. Two of the screens remain in place and are invaluable for outreach events, worship services and church programs, such as Fayette’s original Christmas rock opera. Full Story...

Cowden's Colorful Crosses
This summer at Cowden Camp (Gateway Conference), Pastor Roy Abbott of Moundford FMC (Decatur, IL) led the teens through a series of lessons on the cross — teaching that brought about a revival of sorts. Abbott had the teens paint a cross representing each message’s focus: heaven, sin, Jesus’ blood, salvation and growth. Full Story...

New Album from FM Worship Leader
Tacoma First Free Methodist’s Todd Carter Koeppen recently hit the Christian music market with his fourth solo album: Catch Me.
A worship album of a different ilk, Catch Me offers a number of corporate pop worship songs, but the heart of the album lies in tracks meant to inspire listeners to wake up and take part in the Great Commission. Full Story...

On the Road Again
In the three years that Neil Bendixen has been pastoring Canasawacta Valley FMC (Norwich, NY), the congregation has doubled. Amazingly, this bi-vocational pastor (who averages 60 hours per week managing 182 contract milk-haulers in 13 states) gets it all done — but not without the invaluable contributions of the church’s incredibly committed core group.

“I’m intentionally bi-vocational,” Bendixen says. Full Story...

Building for the Future
With its emphasis on reaching out and building people up in Christ, Davison FMC (MI) has grown by more than 200 worshipers over the past three years. Currently, weekly attendance averages 400; more than 500 have been impacted by the church’s ministries.

One creative, effective outreach has been Davison’s women’s inspirational luncheon, a monthly event that draws Full Story...

What a Memory!
A unique scrapbook that belonged to John L. Nichols of Garden Grove, CA, has been donated to the denomination’s Marston Memorial Historical Center (MMHC). Nichols began memorizing Scripture at age 69 in 1921, and continued until he turned 88 in 1940 — committing to memory 3,242 Bible verses and 39 hymns and receiving numerous certificates for his efforts. Full Story...

Hungry for the Hurting
Every May at Timberview Christian Fellowship (Mead, WA), there’s only one thing on the menu, and that’s prayer. Out of this strong inward focus, according to Pastor Matt Thomas, comes an equally intense outward focus — on people and their needs. The church is heavily involved in social services, ministering in 11 countries and locally this past summer alone. “Our people have a vibrant heart for the Lord,” says Full Story...