What people are saying...

Reaching New People

Rev. Mary Jackson Prior - I just wanted to follow up on my last report about having office hours at the local bar! Oh my what a great outreach this is! Last week 18 people showed up to have lunch with me! The business is so good for the bar they have hired more help! I have a 2 pt charge and both congregations are showing up and having a blast getting to know each other! They are inviting friends to come with them that don't come to church! And we have our faces in the community and we are laughing and having fun outside of the castle! It's wonderful and God is truly blessing everyone! This week I hope to approach the owner and ask if we can meet outside at their fire pit around Christmas and sing carols! I think that will be a great way to invite the town to Christmas Eve service! Can't wait to see what God will do! 

7 weeks later: I just had to share the latest update on our Vienna Ale House outreach... our bartender came to church and sang during the offering last week! God is on the move! The Holy Spirit really melted the hearts of the congregation and I don't think there was a dry eye in the church! This is so much fun!

From Jeane Dunkum Pastor of Epworth UMC - Thaxton, VA - Wow!  This is only my 2nd "Coffee With the Pastor"  at the Fisher's Restaurant in Bedford and it was amazing! 
 
When I first got there, there were two gentlemen (one sitting at a corner table, one at the food bar).  They started talking to me right off.  Roy, age 84 ( he said it several times) from there in Bedford and Pat from California who was visiting Virginia to do some writing (he is an author). Very friendly people, I never told them I was a pastor (they didn't ask, so didn't tell).  Then 3 of the ladies from my church showed up for coffee, each at a separate time, but we had a full table and talked for about an hour!  Pat asked if we were doing a Bible study (where did that come from?) and we told him no just having coffee.
 
I now know the names of the 3 waitresses, Cindy 1 (they have another Cindy), Lindsey, and Cheyanne.  The owner, named Lisa came up when 2 of the ladies left and  Kay and I had ordered lunch (she brought it out to me)  She knows I am a pastor and she asked me to pray for her boyfriend Donnie, who is having pains in his abdomen and having tests.  I had a prayer right there with her and told her I would continue to keep them in my prayers.
 
We also had in the restaurant Jean and Willie (who was having breakfast there last week.  Jean came over and spoke to us, and I introduced the 3 ladies, as well as Roy and Pat.
 
I anticipate Roy and Pat will be there again next week, as well as Jean and Willie.  These 3 waitresses (Cindy 1, Lindsey and Cheyanne) work on Wed. mornings. 
 
As I ready to leave, after having a salad (after all, everyone else just had coffee and it was almost lunchtime) Lisa came up and gave me a hug and kiss on my cheek!
 
Again I say Wow!  and this was neat, can't wait until next Wednesday!!

How to Turn Tippers into Tithers

Rev. Suzanne Katschke, co-pastor of Crosswinds UMC said, “In today's tough economic climate, I believe the Tippers to Tithers workshop should be on every church's ‘must attend’ list. The workshop is very practical and doable for any congregation, and Jim Griffith's concepts can be applied immediately. Best of all, by involving our lay leadership, our entire finance and stewardship team now share a common vision and strategy. Tippers to Tithers not only provided us with education, it inspired our team to lead the charge in our church. Our entire team agreed that the workshop was well worth a Saturday afternoon!”

Rev. John Mount pastor of Aldersgate UMC in Birmingham agrees, adding, ““The information/experience that we received at this event should be classified as required, as a person enters the exploratory phase of entering the ministry! It should be classified as required for all pastors! And…Jim Griffith is TOPS in all of his presentations! He kept all of my folks on the edge of their chairs!”