The folks at Liberty Hill UMC at the Mill have a heart for welcoming. As they witnessed fellow United Methodists being displaced during a season of church disaffiliations, this North Georgia Conference congregation desired to open their doors wide. They knew they needed an outreach initiative for both United Methodists searching for a new church home as well as new residents to the area. That’s where United Methodist Communications (UMCom) came in.
Reaching out to neighbors
Utilizing a United Methodist Communications local church grant, Liberty Hill UMC sent direct mail pieces, boosted social media ads and produced an array of UMC branded merchandise, including cups, phone wallets, sunglasses and pens.
“Because of this effort, we have been able to let people know we’re here, that there’s a United Methodist Church here who loves them,” observes the Rev. Dr. Eric Lee, Liberty Hill UMC pastor. “and we've seen people coming not only new to the church, but people coming from disaffiliated churches who are looking for a United Methodist Church to call home.”
Liberty Hill UMC is one of thousands of United Methodist congregations throughout the world who utilize UMCom’s Local Church Services offerings to create or improve marketing efforts, including social media, websites and branding. UMCom also provides marketing grants for new church starts.
“Helping and resourcing our churches that find themselves in a new season or affected by disaffiliation is a priority for UMCom,” says Steven Adair, director, UMCom’s Local Church Services. “In areas where United Methodists have been displaced, we want them to know there is a United Methodist church to find their new spiritual home.”
Listening to those we serve
In recent years, the Local Church Services team has listened to what congregations need and shifted its focus to accommodate those requests.
During the pandemic, UMCom began offering grants for discounted or free Zoom licenses to help churches reach their members and communities at home. Up to 500 churches still receive Zoom grants annually.
Worldwide resources for a worldwide church
Local Church Services offerings also extend to the Central Conferences, building church websites in the Philippines and creating directional signs to United Methodist churches in Zimbabwe and South Africa. In Zimbabwe, for example, 519 churches received directional signs. The team is working with the South Africa Conference to explore the possibilities of installing public wifi spots in community centers, beginning in Johannesburg.
Folks signing on to the free public wifi would login to a page that also promotes a local church, Adair explains, adding that the initiative heightens awareness of United Methodist congregations in the area. This specific project is being implemented in partnership with both the South Africa Conference and UMCom’s Global Technology Team.
The support, Adair emphasizes, is tailored to each congregation and most services are free.
“It would be easier to find a one-size-fits-all solution, but that isn’t the reality,” he shares. “We are intentional in how we are resourcing churches. It looks vastly different, church to church.”
Crystal Caviness works for the Denominational Content Strategy Team at United Methodist Communications. Contact her by email.
This story was published on April 19, 2024.