Lay Leader:  Elaine Davis

Lay Member to Annual Conference:  Dick Lyon

Lay Member to Annual Conference:  Larry Davis

Alternate Delegate to Annual Conference:  Tommy Carroll

Administrative Board Chair:  Richard Gingles

Treasurer:  Bob Chatham

Financial Secretary:  Wayne Roberts

Recording Secretary:  Beth Lewis

 

Board of Trustees:   Tommy Carroll, Chair

This committee is responsible for the care and maintenance of all church buildings, grounds, parsonages, as well as the real and personal property of the church.  This committee may schedule church-wide work days during the year.

Children’s Church:   Lori Cripple, Coordinator

Coordinate adult volunteers to minister to children 3rd grade and younger following Children’s Time during the Morning Worship services with a bible lesson and a craft activity.

 

Children’s Ministry:   Lori Cripple, Coordinator

Children’s Ministry has many events scheduled throughout the year such as Valentine’s  Skating Party, Easter Egg Hunt, Welcome Summer Water Party, Vacation Bible School, Beach Party with Bonfire, Family Fall Festival and Birthday Party for Jesus.  We place a strong emphasis on mission work throughout our children’s ministry.  Placing an offering in the mission bucket during children’s time in the worship service is just one example of an opportunity that the children have to help other children.

 

Children’s Music:   Mandy Long, Coordinator

The Children’s Choir is held downstairs in Moore Hall starting at 9:30am immediately after the 8:30 Worship service.  The children sing during the year at morning worship and at other special services.

 

Church Historian:   Polly Mincher

 

Cluster Representatives:   Rhett Hamiter, Joan Holyfield

The Gulfport/Long Beach Cluster is a consortium of representatives of United Methodist churches that meet every other month at alternating churches.  It offers an opportunity to share strengths and lend support to various events and programs.  Some proposed activities are a Fifth Sunday February Lenten Service, a Cluster talent show, and a Mission Fair.  The Cluster also supports the Jefferson Davis Wesley Foundation. 

 

Council on Ministries Chair:   Jerry Leone

 

Evangelism Ministries:   Dale Foy, Chairman

Goals for this ministry include: Emphasis on pew pad member and guest registration, direct contact of first time visitors, design and provide brochures which can be used to invite others to our church, design and provide brochures about church activities to motels, help set realistic goals for church growth and projections, support Cursillo for adults and The Happening for youth, develop special ministry ideas for coastal events, support Boy and Girl Scout programs, plan for Evangelism and Outreach Sunday.

 

Fellowship Ministries:   Rhett Hamiter, Chairman

Our desire is to provide opportunities for the people of our church to gather for various activities and enjoy Christian Fellowship.   We also hope these activities will attract others to our church family.  We truly believe that being a Christian means many things, but it should also mean having fun!  Some of the activities planned include: special interest and music programs for Sunday Night Fellowship on the first Sunday evening of each month, a Christian fellowship campout at Flint Creek in Wiggins, a beach picnic at the Long Beach Pavilion, a picnic on the grounds, an ice cream social and a fall activity.  We invite all of our church family to join in and have fun together.

 

Hosting Committee:   Grace Gingles, Chairman

This committee assists the church when a meal or refreshments are needed.  It manages kitchen activities, including meal preparations and set-up for covered dish suppers.   It organizes church-wide affairs, such as receptions.  It also takes care of the general upkeep of the kitchen and supplies.  Events managed include Fellowship Suppers, Souper Bowl Sunday, Breakfast after the Easter Sunrise Service, Baccalaureate Sunday Dinner to honor High School Seniors and their families, Shrimp Supper, Ice Cream Social, Cook-out at Long Beach  Harbor, and Chicken Dinner.

 

Legal Advisor:   John Crouch

 

Library Committee:   Betty D’Aquilla, Chairman

The church library is located in the conference room across from the church office.  It is open when the church is open to check out books from a large selection of Christian novels and religious publications.  Donated books are welcome but, because of limited space, will be used at the discretion of the committee.   Outdated or duplicate books may be rotated out or donated to other charitable causes.

 

Missions Committee:   Larry Davis, Chairman

We strive to be a mission-minded church and reach out to help those in need, not only in our community, but all over the globe.  In order to do this we have several fund-raisers during the year.  We support these missions financially and with our time and talent.

 

Mountain T.O.P. Youth Ministry:   Lynn Bourdin, Coordinator

The Tennessee Outreach Project is a mission to the Cumberland Mountains where youth who are entering 9th grade or are 14 years old spend a week doing hands on projects that will fill their hearts with the spirit of the Lord.  Our youth come back with the joy that can only come from helping others.  The church pays half the cost for church members and regular MYF participants to attend.  There may be other scholarships available through the Hayes Fund that is overseen by the trustees.

 

Youth Ministry:  Kevin Bishop, Coordinator

Our youth program is for those in Middle School and High School and friends.  Youth Ministry includes Sunday School, UMYF (United Methodist Youth Fellowship), The Well, Senior High Prayer Breakfast, and youth retreats.  UMYF meets  every Sunday at 4pm in the youth hall for worship, fellowship, small group discussions, and mission projects.  The Well is a youth-led worship service on Wednesday nights at 6pm in the youth hall.

 

Nursery Committee:   Stacey Rishel, Coordinator

The nursery is located in the Christian Life Center.  We strive to provide a safe environment for children under 5 years of age while their parents attend worship services, Sunday School, fellowship supper, bible studies, UMW meetings, choir practice, and other church-wide functions.  The Cry Room is located just off the sanctuary if you prefer to stay with your child there.

 

Nurture Ministries:   Janis Slade, Chairman

The Nurture Ministries strive to keep in contact with all of our members and encourages them to become involved in the many ministries that are available.  This is done by visiting new members, supporting the pastors with the spring confirmation class and retreat, keeping a weekly attendance using pew pads, sending postcards to members who are absent for several weeks, help keep an up-to-date directory and pictorial directory once every three years, provide meals for bereaved church families, keep in contact with our college students, send birthday cards to members who are 80 and older, serve communion to shut-ins, record worship services and deliver to shut-ins, coordinate visitations with the church care team,  support Stephen Ministries, support bible studies, have intercessory prayer meetings, offer Circle of Eight dinner groups for fellowship,  support the quilting group, and encourage every member to become part of a small group.

 

Older Adult Kindred Spirits (OAKS):   Joe Corley, President

This is an organization that is open to anyone 55 years or older though youngsters are welcome at any time.  These fun and informative meetings are held monthly on the fourth Wednesday at 11:45am.  A potluck luncheon is followed by a program of music, important information, or a topic of interest.

 

Stewardship Committee:   Wayne Roberts, Chairman

This committee plans and executes an annual campaign to advise the congregation of our budget plans and the need for pledges to make a commitment of your giving for the coming year.

 

Sunday School Superintendent:   John Blake

 

United Methodist Men:   Fred Renfrey, President

The United Methodist Men is a creative, supportive fellowship of men who seek to know Jesus Christ, to grow spiritually , and to seek His will.  Its primary purpose is to declare the centrality of Christ in the lives of men and in all their relationships.  Some of their activities include: Meeting monthly for breakfast and a devotional, going on fun excursions for fellowship, participating in Habitat for Humanity projects, encouraging participation in Mountain Top (A.I.M), supporting UMW with setup and cleanup for the spring and fall rummage sales, encouraging participation in Promise Keepers, and preparing and serving Seashore Mission meals as needed.

 

United Methodist Women:   Joyce St. John, President

The United Methodist Women of our church are a part of over one million women across the nation whose purpose is to know God and to experience freedom as a whole person through Jesus Christ, to develop a creative, supportive fellowship, and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church.  The UMW participate in an in-depth mission study and follow-up project each year.   Monthly meetings are held in circles (small sub-groups).  General meetings are held four times during the year.   Circles keep in touch with shut-ins and STARS (retired).  Two rummage bake sales are held each year, proceeds of which are donated to a designated mission.

 

Wesley Foundation:   Janis Slade, Coordinator

We encourage our graduating High School Seniors to become involved in the Wesley Foundation when they attend college.  Our church supports the Methodist ministry at the local campuses such as the one at the Jefferson Davis campus of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in Gulfport.

Worship Committee:   Floss Roberts and Marie Ward, Co-Chairmen

The Worship Committee works with the pastors to plan and prepare worship services for the year.  Volunteers needed during morning worship services include Greeters (to welcome you as you enter the sanctuary and answer questions of visitors), Ushers (to give you a bulletin, show you to a seat, light the acolyte lighter, take count of church attendance, and receive morning offering),  Communion Stewards (to prepare sacraments for our Lord’s Supper), and Acolytes, children 3rd grade and older, (to light candles and give/receive the offering plates).

 

Youth Puppet Ministry:   Millie Treadaway, Coordinator

The puppet team meets on Sunday afternoon at 3pm.  This ministry is comprised of middle and high school youth and is open to anyone who is interested in being a puppeteer, building props, sharing experiences, and worshipping God in this meaningful way.  Performances include Fellowship Suppers, Children’s Ministry activities, Children’s Sermon time, and special functions for other churches and groups.

Finance Committee:   Janet Baker, Chairman

This committee proposes the budget and advises its members about spending throughout the year.  It also works with the Stewardship chairman and pastor to plan and execute an annual pledge campaign.

Lay Leadership/Nominations Committee:   Pastor, Chairman

Lay Leader, TBD

This committee is given the responsibility for securing the best candidates for the elected leadership of the church.  Those elected to serve on this committee can only be nominated from the floor at our annual Charge Conference.

Permanent Endowment Committee:   John Crouch, Chairman

This committee is given the responsibility to receive, administer, and invest large gifts, bequests, and endowment funds for the church.  Members of the committee are financial trustees and are governed by the guidelines adopted by the Charge Conference and the Book of Discipline.

Staff-Parish Relations Committee:   Kevin Bishop, Chairman

This committee is the personnel work area of the church.  The members of this committee evaluate and advise the pastors and all other staff and take under advisement input from the entire congregation.  When a pastor and his or her family leave and a new one arrives, this committee makes everything run smoothly.

At-Large Members of Administrative Board: