In the News- Asbury UMC, Huntersville
[This article appeared in The Charlotte Observer, June 3, 2015. Marty Minchin, reporter/Photo from Asbury UMC]
Church Celebrates 200th Anniversary
Presiding over Asbury United Methodist Church’s 200th anniversary celebration has sent the Rev. Jimmy Howard into the history books. Howard, Asbury’s pastor, presented tidbits of church history in services throughout the year, and the church has offered studies on how Methodism has affected the region. “It’s been quite a journey, one that’s been very surprising to me,” said Howard, who has been at the church for nine years. “This little church has done a lot in the last 200 years that the world has really benefited from.” Through research, Howard learned the church was started by Ann Christenbury, a woman who had become a Christian after hearing Methodist circuit rider preachers at an outdoor “brush arbor” service. Christenbury, whom Howard described as a “very powerful and dynamic woman,” organized a home church that began meeting in the Asbury area and prayed that her entire family would become Christians. Christenbury’s son, Daniel, became a Methodist circuit-riding preacher himself, and at one of his services, Brantley York – known as the founder of the school that became Duke University – also decided to dedicate his life to serving God. Asbury United Methodist Church, which was founded in the Ferrelltown area along Asbury Chapel Road, has endured the Civil War and two world wars as well as several tragedies at home. Read the entire article at The Charlotte ObserverResources for Vital Congregations
CHURCH LEADERSHIP
Lewis Center for Church Leadership
Lewis Center for Church Leadership: Books
Lewis Center for Church Leadership: Serve Your Neighbor
GBHEM Leadership Resources
Living Faithfully: Human Sexuality and the United Methodist Church
Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations
Ted Talks: The Power of Vulnerability
Ted Talks: The Price of Invulnerability
Meditations on the Ministry of All Christians
DISCIPLE FORMATION:
A Disciple’s Path; A Guide for United Methodist
Lewis Center for Church Leadership: Adult Christian Studies from the Wesley Ministry Network
Traveling Together: A Guide for Disciple Forming Congregations
WESLEYAN STUDIES:
Living As United Methodist Christians
Methodist Doctrine: The Essentials
Reclaiming our Wesleyan Tradition: John Wesley’s Sermons for Today
John Wesley Sermons: Anthology
REACHING PEOPLE:
Evangelism & Theology in the Wesleyan Spirit
Fresh Expressions: Dinner Church
Lewis Center for Church Leadership: Reach New Disciples
Lewis Center for Church Leadership: 50 Ways to Reach People
Community: The Structure of Belonging
RESOURCES TO CONNECT WITH THE COMMUNITY:
GRANTS:
The Royce and Jane Reynolds Ministry Fund Grants
OTHER:
The Appalachian District Church Vitality Team has been prayerfully seeking ways to help support you and the ministries of your local congregation during this COVID-19 pandemic. Together they have diligently researched and connected with others throughout the conference and our denomination to identify resources and offer them to you. We hope they will be helpful to you and bless you greatly in leading your churches and communities through this unprecedented time. We are very grateful to the District Vitality Team and other contributors for their great work on this resource.
This faithful team has created three documents, two of which you are receiving today. They include:
- Family Home Worship – designed to help families establish a regular worship space within their homes as well as a time where they can worship together.
- Tech Strategies – to help guide you in selecting effective tools and resources within your budget to best communicate in the digital world.
We believe these resources will be of great benefit to you. Also know that the District Vitality Team is available to answer any questions you might have in regards to the documents attached. If you have questions, you may email Rev. Howard Fleming at hfleming@wnccumc.net.