|
THE CHURCH CONTINUES TO THRIVE
The year 1880 brought the famous
evangelist, Samuel
Porter Jones, to the Monticello Circuit for his last appointment as
an itinerant preacher. Evangelism has been at the heart of Methodism from the
earliest beginnings, and no one fulfilled that ideal more than Sam Jones.
The Special Collections Department of
Robert W. Woodruff Library,
Emery
University has a Samuel Porter Jones Collection containing
many of Jones' letters, sermons, appointment books, and personal effects
including two of Jones' bow ties. According to a newspaper article in the
collection, Jones married in 1869; and for the next three years, he drank
excessively. In 1872, at his father's deathbed, he promised to reform.
A short time later, he was converted at
Felton's Chapel. That same year, he was licensed by the North Georgia
Conference and was appointed to "probably the poorest circuit in the
Conference. The previous year this charge had paid its pastor the handsome
salary of sixty-five dollars; but despite some very unpopular preaching, when
the end of the year had come, Jones had received $700. For eight years Jones
served circuits, preached an average of 400 sermons every year, and received
into the church 5000 converts."
In a book published soon after Jones'
death, Mrs. Sam P. Jones wrote about their circuit experiences, Before coming
to the Monticello Circuit, Jones had served two years on the
"Newberne" Circuit in
Newton
County. It was while he was serving that circuit that he
began to do extensive revival work, visiting towns in nearby areas holding
unprecedented services. In writing his impressions after a six-week revival
services, a young lawyer wrote that "Sam Jones lit down in this
veritable town of Thompson, and began to go for the devil and his angels in a
manner which was entirely new to said devil; also new to said angels."
From the Newborn Circuit, Jones was sent to
the Monticello Circuit. Mrs. Jones said he spent his most successful year as
a pastor on the Monticello Circuit. She wrote that the people of
Monticello were "among the noblest in
Georgia." Mr. Jones was noted for the amount of time
he spent visiting, and concerned friends tried to discourage him from working
so hard. He recalled another preacher whose doctor, out of concern for his
health, told him that he could preach no more than four hours every day and
six hours on Sunday. The preacher had exclaimed that he would rust to death.
Jones felt the same way and went right on preaching every day, visiting the
sick, and holding revivals in nearby towns.
Mrs. Jones said that the Bible was the
basis for all that Sam Jones preached and the inspiration of all his hopes.
He never wavered from its truths, and that seemed to be the key to the
success of his meetings. In summing up his pastorate on the Monticello
Circuit, Mrs. Jones noted that
Monticello and
Jasper
County were "noted for their wickedness. The people
were intelligent, well to do, worldly and wicked." However, 700 people
were converted while Sam Jones was pastor. She told the story of two of those
converts, and said that "revival was carried on by (all) the converts
which revolutionized the county." The saloons were soon closed and the
influence extended to adjoining counties. When Mrs. Jones wrote her book, Life and Sayings of Sam P.Jones,
she stated that there "are no more religious and spiritual people to be
found anywhere, after a quarter of a century."
Jones' success
on the Monticello Circuit gave him prestige at the annual conference; and he
was appointed to the agency of the North Georgia Orphanage, which later was
known as the Methodist Children's Home. Since he no longer had the
responsibility of a circuit, the world became his parish for the next 20
years. Jones preached in nearly every state of the nation, to crowds of
10,000 to 20,000, without the aid of
modern-day amplification. His converts numbered 700,000, with sometimes and
many as 2,700 in a single revival.
Jones' appointment book for 1884 revealed
that he preached 29 times in
Waco,
Texas from September 28 until October 7. He became sick,
and his wife, Laura, arrived in
Waco on October 9. They left for home in
Social Circle on October 17, arriving on the 19th.
Other notes indicated that Jones used some
of his earnings as an evangelist to pay the operating expenses of the Methodist
Children's Home. The home was nearly bankrupt when Jones was appointed an
agent in 1881.
Jones' own explanation for his success was
that "every power he possessed was so dedicated to God that it was held
subject to his unquestioned will." When he died in 1906, his death was
headline news across the nation. At the request of the mayor and the city
council of Atlanta, his body was brought to
Atlanta on a special train from Cartersville. Thousands of
people lined the streets with their heads bowed. Sam Jones' body lay in state
at the capitol, and an estimated "30,000 people, old and young, rich and
poor, white and black, many of them in tears, passed his bier."
The following two years, 1881 and 1882,
found John Malachi Bowden at the helm of the Monticello
Circuit. Charles T. Jones served as junior preacher in 1881,
and Thomas S. Hubert was junior preacher in 1882.
Hubert later became a frequent contributor to the Wesleyan Christian Advocate.Theophilus S. L. Harwell was appointed pastor of the
Monticello Circuit in 1883, with Michael Dennis Turner as the junior preacher. The Shady
Dale Circuit was formed the next year, 1884, with Harwell receiving that appointment. It is
assumed that Prospect was a part of this new circuit. Harwell was born in
Newton
County and attended
Emory
College. He had a twin brother who was also a preacher.
They died just a few days apart in 1895 at the age of 71.
William A. Farris served the Shady Dale Circuit in 1885 and 1886. Then
the appointment went to Marion H. Eakes in 1887 and 1888. According to
Conference minutes recorded after his death in 1912, Eakes was converted at
age 12 at a camp meeting through the counsel of his older brother. When his
brother asked him if he were saved, his response was, "I think I
am." His brother said, "Here, this will never do." He took him
by the arm and said, "Come on, you must know it." After a few
moments, he was "gloriously converted." it was also stated that
"his call to the ministry was in direct answer to the prayers of his
godly mother." Eakes was spoken of as a moral hero. "He accepted, preached, and lived
the doctrine of holiness as taught by the Bible, and the standards of his
church...His love for the church amounted almost to a passion, and his grief
was intense whenever any sort of compromise was made with the world." He
often expressed the desire to die in the pulpit; and on January 28,
1912, God granted him that
wish. Eakes was preaching on Matthew 7:24, 27 in a little country church in
Morgan
County. At the end of the service, after he had made the
announcements and pronounced the benediction, he died. In writing Eakes'
memoir in the North Georgia Conference Journal, J. H. Mashburn said,
"His loving Father gently released the pure spirit from the frail body, and he ceased to live
and work."
Following Eakes as pastor was Osgood Andrew Thrower in 1889 and 1890. Later, Thomas J. Warlick was given the appointment as pastor
of the Shady Dale Circuit in 1891 and 1892. The factor that makes the next
twenty years, beginning with 1892, so interesting is that the quarterly
Conference minutes are in the possession of the Shady Dale Circuit. Charge
Conferences were held in a different local church every three months. The
minutes contained statistics concerning the pastor's salary, other financial
records, and trustees' reports. They also included written reports of the
state of the Sunday Schools, the pastoral instruction of children, and the general
state of the church. Occasionally, there were written reports on secular and
Christian education and on missions.
The Shady Dale Circuit began to make a
concentrated effort to raise money for a parsonage. The 1892 minutes made
several references to parsonage monies being collected. The churches included
on the charge at that time included Pennington, Prospect,
Calvary,
Liberty, Midway, and
Concord. Their total assessment for the pastor's salary was
$715 for 1892; records showed the final settlement was $656.85.
The third quarterly Conference for 1892 was
held at Prospect. Apparently Pastor Warlick had been quite ill, for there was
a resolution written into the minutes that stated, "Whereas it has
pleased Almighty God to afflict our pastor, Bro. T. G. Warlick, we feel that
we owe to him who cares for all in both sickness and health our praise and
gratitude that he has helped our brother through this long spell of
fever--and be it resolved that we pray for his speedy recovery--that he may
be speedily returned to his work"
Apparently he did recover speedily because
revivals were held in all the churches previous to the fourth quarterly
Conference in October 1892, and 65 new members were added to the rolls. In those same
minutes was a report of the trustees of Prospect. It stated that the seating
capacity for the church building was 450. The building was in need of repair
and was valued at $1,500. Warlick died in 1933 and was buried in
Oxford,
Georgia.
Charles L. Pattillo became pastor in 1893. Pattillo wrote concerning
church discipline in the minutes for May 1893. "We have some violations
of church discipline. Some people in the church, who are an evil to the
church, and the church is no blessing to them." He then listed three
people whose names were dropped from the roll. At the next conference, he
mentioned that a doctor was expelled.
The Sunday School reports for
Prospect
Church almost always seemed favorable. W. H. Thompson was
named for a good number of years as the superintendent. In comments made at
the quarterly Conference in October 1893, Pattillo said that some of the
Sunday Schools "were doing well. Some are languishing. All of them might
be successes if the whole church would cooperate with the faithful few who
work in the Sunday School."
In memoirs written at his death, Pattillo
was described as very evangelistic. It was noted that, "As a preacher,
he was direct, simple, scriptural, strong and helpful...the evangelistic note
was constantly sounded in his sermons...and he deplored what he considered
the lack of the evangelistic passion among his younger brethren." Pattillo
died in Decatur in 1923. He had nine children; two sons had become
ministers, and one son was a doctor.
W. C. Dunlap, who became the pastor in 1894 was also concerned
about the state of the Sunday Schools. He said that some of the churches on
the circuit were "practically without any Superintendents, the Brethren
elected having refused to serve." Another time he wrote that Prospect
was the only church that went all winter without suspending the Sunday School
program. The weather often played a big part in the continuation of services.
Dunlap said, "I suppose this school has not suspended for years. It is well
organized and doing good work. We greatly need a revival at nearly all our
churches in Sunday School work. I make it a point to attend Sunday School and
take part in the services."
It is not clear just when the public school
was constructed on the same property as the church at Prospect, but Dunlap
called special attention to the fine literary school at Prospect taught by
Christian teachers. He wrote, "May the Lord turn the hearts of the
parents yet more and more toward their children in the matter of Christian
education."
Dunlap wrote another time about the
spiritual state of the church. He indicated that he attempted to inquire into
the lives of the members and ascertained that most of them lived moral lives.
He did say, however, that the "spiritual tone of the Charge is not up to
a high standard, not many fast at stated times. We are not searching the
Scriptures as we should." The next quarter, he wrote that the protracted
meetings had not brought the results he had hoped, that people felt compelled
to continue to work their crops. He expressed a need for a day of fasting and
prayer. Dunlap was a native of
Jasper
County, was converted at the age of 14, and died at the
age of 58 in Covington in 1896, according to
Lawrence's book, Methodist Preachers in Georgia.
The problems had not changed when Oliver Cromwell Simmons became pastor of the Shady Dale
Circuit in 1895. It might be noted here that
Monticello had become a station church the previous year.
Simmons wrote in the minutes that the trouble in some of the churches was the
lack of leadership. He said the children were "anxious to go, and if we
would give God a chance the next generation would be far better than
this." The tone had changed somewhat by the next quarterly Conference.
He wrote, "The church is not dead. Her life blood is health and the membership
for the most part endeavors to be loyal to God."
James Benton, who had contributed the
foundation beams for the church in 1875, died in December 1895. When the
quarterly Conference met in April 1896, a resolution commemorating his life
was included in the minutes. It described him
as a "quiet, modest Christian gentleman." His generosity, spoken of at length, was
summed up by noting that one of his last acts was to "see that the
preacher was provided for." It also stated that, "in his death,
Prospect
Church, of which he was a member, lost its oldest and one of its most liberal
members." Today, James Benton's great grandson, L. O. Benton III, and
great-great grandson, L. O. (Chip) Benton IV, are members of
Prospect
Church.
The Conference minutes in November 1896
included Simmons' report on missions. He admitted that not a great deal had
been done toward the support of missions, even though he had often preached on the subject. He
stated his desire that God would "hasten the time when church vows mean
something and when all shall give because of a consuming love for Jesus
Christ, and throbbing, anxious hearts for the regions beyond."
Andrew Dayton Echols was appointed to serve the Shady Dale Circuit for
the years, 1897-1900. In the Conference minutes in February 1897, he wrote about the
"warm Methodist welcome" his family had received. He also made a
number of suggestions concerning the Sunday Schools. He encouraged the
participation of the older members, punctuality on everyone's part, and the
use of Methodist literature. He said he personally had spoken with many of
the children about the importance of being Christians. After visiting
extensively in the homes, Echols found 56 children under the age of 12 who
had not been baptized. He realized that there was much work to be done. The
next quarter, he told of holding family class meetings in 20 new homes and of
finding family altars in only five. Apparently his home visits were
successful because one quarter he recorded 13 infant baptisms and added other
new members to the rolls.
The missionary spirit had improved. Echols
noted an increase in giving and reported that at least one of the Ladies
Missionary Societies was flourishing. He reported that in the Society at
Prospect, "there is
only one member, but she is faithful."
The churches on the charge at that time
were Calvary,
Liberty, Prospect, Midway, and
Concord. Echols reported that there were six Sunday Schools on
the charge, including ones at Maxwell and Aikenton. Aikenton was in the
process of acquiring materials to build a church.
Politics entered the picture at the close
of the quarterly Conference in 1899. A resolution was entered into the
minutes encouraging every member of the church to consider it a "duty to
do everything in their power to have the anti-barroom bill, now pending in
the Legislature, pass, and we respectfully request our honorable
representative for Jasper
County to vote for its passage."
When the Conference met again in January
1900, Echols said, "If every member of this Conference will start to do
his part of duty, with faith in God, this closing year of the 19th century
will be a good year for the Shady Dale Circuit." Another time, he wrote
that he had tried to bring the matter of education before the people "in
connection with the 20th Century Movement." He continued by reporting
that several of the young people on the charge were attending college. Also,
the possibility of building a parsonage seemed stronger than ever. Echols
said the funds were available and it should be accomplished that year.
In September 1900, Echols gave his
"last and sixteenth report to this Conference." He wrote, "I
feel thankful to God for his blessings." He had just finished a series
of protracted services and felt that they had been the best since he had been
pastor of the circuit. He had baptized five infants and 28 adults.
|
THE CHURCH AT THE DAWN OF THE 20TH CENTURY
Accepting the appointment as pastor of
the Shady Dale Circuit in 1901 and 1902 was Frederick W. McClesky. The circuit consisted of
Calvary, Midway,
Liberty,
Concord, Prospect, and Godfrey. Weather still played a
big part in church attendance as indicated in McClesky's remarks in the
spring of 1901. He said he trusted that "since the bright beautiful
spring time had come, the attendance and interest will increase and grander
things will be achieved for the glory of God and the salvation of the
precious children." He expected the summer protracted meetings to
bring about a spiritual revival and requested earnest prayer "that God
would kindle and spread all over this circuit a gracious revival of
religion, and that Christ may be glorified, and that immortal souls be
saved within the bounds of this charge this year as never before in its
entire history." God
heard those prayers; six months later 57
people had joined the churches.
However, by October 1902, the situation
did not seem so promising. There was a report that the stewards had not
paid the pastor's rent; and in his remarks on the spiritual state of the
churches, McClesky commented on the lack of support from the congregations.
He seemed to have faced tremendous opposition from a number of different
sources including "the devil...and wicked men" and
"indifference and desertion from church members." He was quick to
thank God for the blessings bestowed upon him personally and upon his
"dear little family." His desire was that in the future the
circuit would "stand by its pastor in a more courageous and
Christ-like way...and be more faithful to Christ, more missionary in
spirit." He went on to say, "I also hope that those members on
this circuit who have failed me, their pastor, and which is far more,
failed the loving
Jesus, may go quickly to Him on their
knees in prayer, get the long suffering Savior's forgiveness and be ready
to face Him in peace on that awful and fiery day of final judgement."
By the time Atticus Burton Sanders, who was appointed for the years
1903-1905, commented in the Conference minutes in May 1903, the spiritual
state of the churches was much improved. He said there were many "with
rich Christian experience which they are not ashamed to relate...The people
delight to assemble in the House of the Lord." Three months later, he
wrote favorably about Saturday services and prayer meetings. He even
commented that he had never served a work where there were so many who
would pray in public. He said the people responded "liberally to every
call made on them and show a willingness to co-operate with the
pastor."
The winter of 1903 apparently took its
toll on Prospect's Sunday School, since Sanders wrote in January 1904, that
the Sunday School had "gone into the winter quarter, or the grave, we
can't say which." By August, however, it had been re-organized. The
attendance only averaged around 20, but he said, '"The interest those
few manifest is beautiful to behold."
The combined assessment for the salaries
of the presiding elder and the pastor was $685 for 1904, with Prospect's
portion only $145. Sanders wrote in October 1904, that his last regular
appointment at Prospect was "decidedly the best in the two years of my
pastorate. The music was inspiring, the feeling fine and the giving
liberal."
The need for a parsonage had been
discussed for years. Finally, at the October Conference, parsonage trustees
were elected and "instructed and authorized to proceed at once to the
purchase or erection of a parsonage." There was also mention of a
stove being purchased for Prospect at the cost of $5,
Speaking on the spiritual state of the
church, Sanders wrote, "With few exceptions, peace and harmony prevail
throughout the circuit, and our people continue to manifest a spirit of
loyalty to God and his church. On moral lines, a great progress has been
made. Dram-drinking, dancing, profanity, and such are rapidly disappearing.
Spiritually, we are growing. Our people seem to realize more and more the
worth of the Divine life and they are fixing their affections on things
above."
Great strides had obviously been made in
the Sunday School at Prospect. Sanders said it was one of the best schools
the church had ever had, with 35 pupils enrolled and five teachers and
officers. He praised the enthusiasm of the workers and recognized that the
Lord was blessing their efforts.
No details were given, but mention was
made in July 1905, that Prospect's records had been destroyed by fire. It
is to be assumed that they were in the possession of a church member and
his home had burned. A report was given that $45 had been spent on
Prospect
Church. The church was valued at $1,200 and there was no insurance. The
notation also reported that the title papers were lost.
Ben Graham became pastor of the circuit in 1906; and
according to the March 1906 quarterly Conference minutes, his family became
the first to reside in the newly purchased parsonage in Shady Dale. It was
described as a "suitable cottage...containing four rooms with out
buildings of stables and
two tenant houses located on an acre of land." The churches on the
charge had raised and paid the sum of $1,100. The ladies on the circuit
pledged to raise money to pay for the parsonage furniture. Graham said he
felt this was a "fine showing, for when you go into a man's pocket
book, you find him out real soon."
In writing about the Sunday Schools in November
1906, Graham expressed the desire that the teachers would be more
aggressive in getting all the children in reach of the Sunday School to
attend. He said that many of the children "of our people stay at home
without excuse."
Haynes Walton Morris was appointed to the charge in 1907 and served
only a short time before his death at the age of 49. William E. Venable had replaced him by the time the
quarterly Conference met in April. A resolution was written into the
minutes commemorating Morris' life. Venable began his appointment with a
sincere and humble spirit. He stated that "no preacher in the bounds
of the North Georgia Conference has a better class of people to serve than
this humble servant.''
John Moses Sewell became the new pastor in 1908. The tenant houses
on the parsonage property had apparently created some problems. It was
decided that the pastor had the right to object to disagreeable families.
Sewell also found dissatisfaction with some of the church members. He
wrote, "The indifference to church duties, especially on the part of
many male members is deplorable and should arouse us to earnest
prayer."
The churches listed on the charge at that
time were Calvary, Godfrey,
Liberty, Midway, and Prospect. There were protracted
services at each of the churches during the summer. Sewell said many had
shown "evidences of the love of God in their hearts." The
stewards for Prospect
Church were listed as W. C. Jones, R. G. Chafin, and W. C. Campbell. W.
C. Campbell was also mentioned as the Sunday School superintendent.
David Bane Cantrell became
the pastor in 1909-1911. His earliest evaluation of the charge was not
entirely favorable. He pointed out that there were "some good people
in each congregation who are both loyal and love the church. But there
seems to be a spirit of general indifference throughout the circuit."
The church at Aikenton had obviously not been successful. Plans were made
to sell "the old church...for not less than $100 and use the money on
the M. E. Church at Shady Dale." There was also a $10 claim against
the church.
However, conditions began to improve
throughout the circuit. Cantrell later wrote about several regular prayer
meetings, even though he felt attendance was not what it should be. Thirty
one new members were added to the rolls preceding the fourth quarterly
Conference in 1909. The membership for the circuit totaled 485. It must be
noted that quite often names were also removed because people moved out of
the communities.
Prospect's assessment for 1910 was $185
for both the pastor and the presiding elder. In February 1910, Cantrell
commented on the spiritual state of the church. He had seen no improvement
and felt that, even
though there were a few loyal members, there were many who were
"indifferent and worldly and cared very
little for the church." He said it had become "alarming in some
places." He wrote in the same vein in June 1910, saying that they were
in need of "a great spiritual awakening in every church in the
charge."
In his evaluation of the public schools,
Cantrell said they were "fairly good. Most of our people are trying to
educate their children." He reported a number of students going away
to school, including three at Methodist schools.
Cantrell's summation of the general state
of the church at the close of his tenure in 1911 was favorable. He stated
there had been a "gradual improvement in every interest of the church
for the two years we have been laboring together and the circuit is in the
best condition materially and spiritually than at any time in its
history."
When Cantrell died in 1934, he was
described in journal reports as "a very active, vigorous, alert
pastor, looking out after the needs of his charges." He literally
helped build 19 churches and nine parsonages. During his ministry, 1,000
people were received into the church on profession of faith.
The report on the following years,
1912-1923, would most likely have been erroneous had it not been for the
excellent memory of Prospect's longest-standing member, Cornelia Kelly
Lewis. Lewis joined
Prospect
Church when she was nine years old in 1915. She recalled the pastor's
name and the fact that he came to Prospect from the Mansfield Circuit, as
did the succeeding preachers for a number of years. During this time, the
North Georgia Conference journals still did not list the individual
churches on the circuits; and there are no local records either at Prospect
or Mansfield to substantiate this report. However, the
researcher went to the courthouse in
Monticello and searched through old copies of The Monticello News. In
every instance, there were recorded in the news columns for Prospect or
Eudora Community accounts of the preacher from
Mansfield having filled his regular appointment at
Prospect.
Therefore, it can be reported with
confidence that Zebulon Vance Hawkes preached at Prospect in 1912. Lewis Boyd Linn was the pastor for the years,
1913-1916. William A.
Simmons served the
Mansfield Circuit/Decatur, Oxford District from 1917 until at least the
spring of 1921.
Following Simmons was Samuel Davidson Cherry who filled the pulpit at Prospect
from 1921 until 1923. There were several news items that spoke of Cherry
preaching at Prospect. One entry from Prospect community, dated November 3,
1922, read, "Rev.
Cherry, of Mansfield, filled the pulpit here Sunday. A very
interesting sermon was rendered." Other news items often mentioned A.
T. King who led the singing at Prospect for a number of years. His musical
specials were sometimes mentioned and the fact that he was teaching music
to the children on Saturday nights. King's great granddaughter, Lisa Hipps,
and her family are active members of
Prospect
Church today. It is also interesting to note from the news items that the
popular social events of the day were singings held in homes, possum dinners,
and box suppers.
|
|
|
|
THE CHURCH DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION AND WORLD
WAR II
The next year, 1924,
Prospect
Church was moved back to the Shady Dale Circuit/Oxford District. J. W. Coffman filled
the appointment in 1924, and J. Bunyan Gresham served from 1925 until 1927. It
was while Gresham was at Prospect that the frosted windows were
installed in the church.
Quarterly Conference minutes of the Shady
Dale Circuit are available for 1928-1935. The churches included on the
charge in 1928 were Shady Dale, Midway, Godfrey,
Liberty, and Prospect. Oscar L. Kelly was the pastor-in-charge in 1928.
He was a widow and had a little white dog, which he took with him
everywhere as a companion. On one occasion, not wanting to make the late
trip back to Shady Dale after a revival service, Kelly stayed overnight
with one of the families at Prospect; and the little dog stayed too.
In a Prospect Sunday School report dated October 24,
1928, Superintendent
William Farris Thornton reported an average attendance of only 14, but he
said it is "one of the best little Sunday Schools as you can find, one
and all are interested." He said most of the collection was needed for
supplies, but they had raised $6 for the orphan's home. Another report
indicated that the literature for the year cost $16.26.
William Farris Thornton's son, John
Harris Thornton, Sr., lives in the
Bethel community. In an interview with him, Thornton
said, although he moved away from the county when he was 17, he remembered
well his father serving for a number of years as Sunday School
superintendent and also leading the singing. He recalled the fact that the
preachers didn't have much money in those days, and his father would
collect chickens and whatever else he could and then carry those things to
Shady Dale to the preacher's family.
Thornton had in his possession what appears to be a rough
draft of a document dated in 1894. The document had been drawn up to
replace the deed which was believed to be lost. It served to clarify where
the boundaries of the church property existed.
Thornton gave this unsigned document to
Prospect
Church for display.
In 1929, Walter E. Brown received
the Shady Dale appointment. In writing his first report in February 1929,
Brown commented that none of the Sunday Schools on the charge were as
efficient as they could be. A week-long Sunday School institute was planned
for March with a Cokesbury school or a teacher training class available for
the entire circuit. It was hoped to "enlarge the scope of the Sunday
School work and improve the quality."
Reporting on the general spiritual state
of the charge in October 1929, Brown commented at length. He said he really
believed that most of
the people wanted to "know the mind of the Master and serve both him
and their fellow man better." However, he also wrote, "Our people
perish for the lack of vision...I find that some of our best, especially
our men, are not seeking places of leadership in the church. As a result,
the churches are not prospering as they should and will not prosper as they
might until our laymen catch the vision and accept the challenge and lead
us into larger and better and bigger achievement." He concluded by
reporting that the churches had not paid assessments for the support of
ministry for the year.
In 1930, the appointment went to C. A. Reese. When the third quarterly Conference met in June,
the pastor wrote in his report that there had been a Cokesbury Teachers'
Training School at Shady Dale and that five hours of training had been
given to the Prospect Sunday School. As a result, they had organized a new
class in the school and had decided to buy chairs for the Beginners' Class.
The minutes recorded in the fall indicated that the training had been
effective. Reese wrote that "the people are more interested in the
Sunday School work than they have been heretofore." Reese left at the end of 1930.
J. E. Ward was appointed to serve the Shady Dale Circuit in
1931 and 1932. Talmadge
Church had been added to the circuit by that time.
Between the first and second quarterly Conferences, the pastor had visited
in 64 homes. Ward held revivals in all the churches that first summer and
commented that the
"spiritual life in each church was uplifted." By the next spring,
he was planning revivals again and said that more people were attending
church than they had when he first arrived. Ward, as other preachers before
him, always stressed the need for good Christian literature in the homes,
particularly theWesleyn Christian Advocate. Subscription drives for the Advocate were held once a year, just as
they are today.
The stewards for
Prospect
Church, listed in the minutes of the fourth quarterly Conference,
November 1932, were John Herschel Kelly, J. K. Alien, G. C. Lunsden, and
George Lewis. The trustees listed were G. C. Lunsden, W. F. Thornton, and
J. H. Kelly.
John E. Hartsfield served the charge in 1933. In the minutes of the
first quarterly Conference for that year, he pledged his service and asked for the faithful
cooperation of the "flock of our great Shepherd." The people had
apparently responded generously to the parsonage family, for he wrote,
"their kind expressions are causing us to love them very dearly.
Several poundings have been
given, however, we are still physically able to stand more." Although,
in at least two of the reports, no members were added to the charge, the
final tally for the year was 50 on profession of faith and 25 by
certificate.
Receiving the appointment for 1934 and
1935 was Zebulon Vance Hawkes. He included a Sunday School report
for Prospect in the Conference minutes in the fall of 1934. The average
attendance was 19 and they had given $2.75 to the orphans' home. A total of
$818.20 was pledged for ministerial support for 1935. Prospect's portion
was $125.
The appointment for the next three years,
1936-1938, went to Julius S. Sprayberry. One of the long-time members
recalled the fact that each time he prayed from the pulpit, both he and his
wife knelt.
Sprayberry died in Shady Dale on August 13,
1938. At his death, he
was described as a "son of gentle spirit...wherever he went he carried
with him an atmosphere that caused men and women to feel that here was a
man of God." Sprayberry was also noted as a man of prayer and his
habit of prayer was reflected in every aspect of his life.
Charles R. Williams, of Newborn, finished out Sprayberry's term.
Williams was a young man who was just entering seminary at Emory. He
recalled that he was probably selected to fill that spot because he was
single and lived nearby. Because he had a residence, Mrs. Sprayberry was
allowed to stay in the parsonage in Shady Dale until Conference in
November. Williams said he did not own a car at the time, but he borrowed
his brother's car to drive from Newborn to the different churches on the
circuit.
Williams also remembered that Sprayberry
had arranged for a revival to be held at Prospect in August. Instead of
preaching the revival himself, Williams invited W. D. Mills of
Covington to preach. There was a thunderstorm the opening
night, and the rain on the tin roof was so deafening that no one could hear
Mills preach. Williams decided they would sing until the rain stopped, but
no one could even hear him call out the hymn numbers.
At that time, preachers were expected to
collect money for missions and carry it to the General Conference which met
in November. Williams explained that the time for Conference was set in
November because of the farm economy. Crops would be in by then and money
could be paid out. The pledges for missions for that year had been given to
Sprayberry, and Williams had to collect it. He still has the little
notebook in which he recorded the members' contributions of 50 cents or up
to $2. He was able to carry the pledges marked "paid in full" to
the General Conference.
That was the middle of the depression,
and Williams said the preachers always went to Conference with their
pockets filled with money from the churches in order to pay their bills to
Cokesbury and also to pay their apportionments for the year. He recalled,
too, that the churches on the Shady Dale Circuit had not collected all of
Sprayberry's salary before he died. However, by Conference, the churches
had managed to collect all that was due him. Williams rode a streetcar from
Decatur to
Stewart Avenue in west
Atlanta where Mrs. Sprayberry had moved. When he handed her
the balance of the money due Mr. Sprayberry, she wept because she had never
expected to receive it.
Williams lives in Newborn today after
serving 43 years in the North Georgia Conference. He remains quite active
as a retired preacher.
The year, 1939, was eventful for the
Methodist
Church. Since 1844, the
Methodist
Church in
Georgia had been known as the Methodist Episcopal Church,
South. However, in 1939, the Methodist Episcopal Church, the Methodist
Episcopal Church, South, and the
Methodist
Protestant
Church merged to form the
Methodist
Church. It was a grand reunion, according to The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church.
It was during that year that Thomas H. Wheelis served
as pastor for Prospect
Methodist
Church and seven other churches on the Shady Dale
Circuit. Included were Calvary, Andrews, Godfrey,
Liberty,
New Hope, Talmadge, and
Hillsboro. Wheelis was again the preacher-in-charge in
1940. M. M. Brackman was
appointed for 1941; and although Rudy M. Bangert was appointed for 1942, none of
the older members on the charge remembered him. There was no record of who
actually served the circuit that year.
Emory S. Elmore received the appointment in 1943 and 1944. Augustus Ernest, who had been the pastor of the
Monticello
Methodist
Church for five years, starting in 1923, served as
Elmore's assistant. Since he had made
Monticello his home after retirement, he continued to assist
the Shady Dale Circuit pastors until 1950.
The Shady Dale appointment went to T. L. Roper in
1945, and to Thomas Edward Sherwood in 1946-1948. In a copy of the
pastor's report to the quarterly Conference, Sherwood mentioned an active
Sunday School at Prospect and plans to begin personal evangelism. Spoken of
at his death in 1950, Sherwood was said to have "rendered a faithful
service to the rural charges among people he knew and understood, and by
whom he was loved. He was described as "a man of unsullied
character...he loved God and served Him to the limits of his ability."
|
|
|
|
THE CHURCH CONTINUES TO CHANGE
The Georgia Conferences began to be held
in the summer, instead of the winter, in 1947. Thereafter, the preachers
assumed their appointments in the summer instead of the first of the year.
Consideration was given for the children in the pastor's family who had to
change schools in mid-term.
W. Haywood Thompson was appointed as pastor in 1949. Beginning in
1950, Prospect was placed on the Monticello Circuit/Decatur, Oxford
District along with Hillsboro,
New
Hope, and
Talmadge. Clyde H. Dunn, a student minister from
Emory
University, was appointed to serve the circuit from
1950-1953. During World War II, Dunn served with the U. S. Marine Corps in
the Pacific. John Ben Kelly and his family recalled the time Dunn was
spending the night at their home and their three boys, Johnny, Jimmy, and
Bobby, got in a pillow fight after Dunn had gone to bed. John Ben kept
calling to the boys to be quiet or they would wake the preacher. A little
while later, he discovered that
Dunn was right in the middle of the pillow fight.
After graduating from the Candler School
of Theology, Dunn married Elizabeth Ziegler from
College Park. He then served for six years in the North
Georgia Conference. In 1959, Dunn volunteered to the Methodist Board of
Missions. After a year of language study, he and his wife went to
Taiwan as missionaries to the Chinese, They had five
children while serving on the mission field. Dunn retired from the ministry
in 1993 and lives in Raleigh,
North Carolina.
Bob Gorday became the new student-pastor in 1954 and 1955. Charles Piggot filled the spot in 1956 and 1957.
He was remembered for having a special rapport with the young people. The
very first Methodist
Youth Fellowship at Prospect was organized. Sarah Johnson and Carmie Kelly
served as their adult sponsors, and Rachel Kitchens was the youth leader.
Bill Kelly directed the choir and
made choir robes for the group of approximately 23 young people. A period
of a couple of years was filled with numerous activities, including a
retreat at Rock Eagle, caroling by candlelight at Christmas, hay rides, and
other fun times. Piggot often played ball with the guys and taught
folk-dancing. A story was told which demonstrated his willingness to always
want to help. On the way back to Emory one Sunday night, he picked up a hitchhiker.
Yet, as a result, he was left beaten and robbed.
When student minister William (Bill) L. Knecht filled the post in the summer of
1957, he had never preached a funeral. One of Prospect's members died in
August, and Knecht had the pastor of
Monticello
Methodist
Church conduct the service. William James (Jim) Roherts became the student pastor in
the summer of 1958. W.
Melton McNeil was
appointed in 1959, and later went on to become the District Superintendent
for the Shady Dale Circuit.
Larry M. McIntosh was
the student pastor in 1960. McIntosh resides in
Covington now and is pastor of
North
Covington
United
Methodist
Church. In an interview with him, he said he often told
the story that he preached his "coldest" sermon at Prospect that
year. He described the pot-bellied stove, the cracks in the floor, and the
extremely cold temperature, McIntosh said it was the only time he preached
in his overcoat, He easily recalled names of those members who were so
faithful to be there every second Sunday night and fourth Sunday morning.
When the North Georgia General Conference
met in the summer of 1961, Herbert
A. (Andy) Summers was
appointed to the Monticello Circuit/Griffin District. He remained through
the summer of 1963. Copies of Summer's reports on the work and programs of
the churches are available. In September 1961, he wrote about revivals in
all four churches. He reported on ''outstandingly large
congregations--overflowing the churches on two occasions.'' Plans for
improvement of the church building at Prospect were mentioned, as well as
the funeral that summer of "Mr. Grady Lewis, a dedicated and
beloved member at Prospect."
Summers' report in April 1962 seemed
favorable also. He did mention that "additional work at Prospect and
Hillsboro is in order and is
being planned." He offered special thanks to Grace Middlebrooks and
Bobby Sauls in the area of music. They were given special mention in each
of his reports. The September 1962 minutes reported on the completion of
the parsonage project. The circuit parsonage had not been occupied by a
Methodist minister for 41 years. It was located in the lower corner lot of
the First
Methodist
Church in
Monticello. Each of the four churches--Prospect,
New Hope, Talmadge, and
Hillsboro--had assumed responsibility for remodeling one of
the four rooms at the total cost of $1,200. Since Summers got married that
summer to Katrina McCay of
Covington, the project completion was right on schedule. In
that same report, he wrote about the circuit-wide youth fellowship. There
had been numerous activities, with 45 young people in attendance on at
least one occasion.
In May 1963, the report concerning
Prospect
Church was rather ominous. In fact, Summers said it was "nearing the
critical list." He stated that it might be best if Prospect would
lower its budget and "drop back to one preaching service per
month." There were only two services a month, and one of those was at
night. They both were poorly attended with only about four families
represented. The night service had especially poor attendance.
Serving the Monticello Circuit for the
next four years, June 1963 until June 1967 was Omer Lester Vickery. When General Conference met in
June 1967, Prospect
Church was taken from the Monticello Circuit and placed back on the Shady
Dale Circuit.
Thomas E. Smith, Jr. came as pastor of the Shady Dale Circuit in June
1967 and remained until June 1968. Hubert
Dodd, a retired supply preacher from Forsyth, was also appointed as an
associate pastor for the Shady Dale Circuit. He filled the pulpit at Prospect
on a regular basis.
Another great change took place in The
Methodist Church in 1968. The
Methodist
Church and the
Evangelical
United
Brethren
Church merged and became known as The United Methodist
Church. They had long held the same fundamental doctrines of faith and had
shared a common historical and spiritual heritage, according to The Book of Discipline.
Also, in that same year, the Monticello
Circuit was disbanded.
Hillsboro,
New
Hope, and
Talmadge were placed on the Shady Dale Circuit with
Calvary, Godfrey,
Liberty, and Prospect. Andrew Church was closed. Thus,
the total number of churches on the Shady Dale Circuit was seven.
Karl C. Evans received the pastor's appointment from June 1968
until June 1970. At that time, there were only two families in the church
with young children. For a couple of years, Janis Lewis taught a Sunday
School class for her two sons and Loice Allen, Jr.'s five children. On some
occasions, when there was not a preaching service and when it was too cold
to heat the church, Lewis would teach them in her home.
Robert W. (Bob) Smith became
the student pastor in 1970 and served through June 1971. While Smith was
pastor at Prospect, some much-needed improvements were begun on the church
building. The ceiling was lowered, new putty was put in the windows, sheet
rock was placed over the plastered walls, and a new hardwood floor was
installed.
Timothy English filled the pastor's role for six months, from June
through December 1971. It was during this time that
Prospect
Church sold a corner lot to the community for a new community center to
replace the old Prospect schoolhouse on Highway 11 that had been used for
community purposes for a number of years.
Robert R. (Bob) Moore became pastor in January 1972 and remained through
June 1975. According to financial records, a new roof was put on the
building at Prospect in 1973.
Moore held a Sunday afternoon Bible study at Prospect
for several months while he was pastor. Preaching services were held two
Sundays a month with one of those services at 10 a.m. and the other at 11:15 a.m.
The Sunday School program was also
renewed. Not since the mid-fifties had there been a full-scale Sunday
School program with classes for all ages. Classes began to meet September 1,
1974, in the four corners
and middle section of the large sanctuary. There were 40 students enrolled
in five classes.
About the same time, a community-wide
youth group was formed. Rose Lewis led the group with Bible study. They
held their meeting in the community center. However, on some occasions, the
group met in the different homes of the young people. The youth group also
participated in a county-wide evangelistic program sponsored by Campus
Crusade for Christ. There were many opportunities for recreation that
included cook-outs, swim parties, softball games, and trips to
Stone Mountain and Six Flags. There were also spiritual retreats
to a conference center in
Chattanooga. The group remained active for a number of years,
In the midst of this growth and renewed
interest, Rodney Daffron was appointed as student pastor in
June 1975. Talmadge
Church closed in 1975, and the circuit consisted of
Calvary,
Hillsboro,
New Hope, Godfrey, and Prospect. Daffron served until June
1978. In his Conference report in 1975, Daffron commented on the tremendous
growth at Prospect. He said that additional room would soon be needed. For
the first time in many years, the church held a
Vacation
Bible
School. For several years, it was organized as a
community Bible
School, in cooperation with
New
Rocky
Creek
Baptist
Church. There has been a
Vacation
Bible
School at Prospect every year since 1975.
In 1976, Joe Duke, III served as a special summer worker
with the youth on the Shady Dale Circuit. He worked very closely with the
young people at Prospect. The church had two weekend revivals that summer,
and Duke led one with a special emphasis for the youth. Daffron's report
from 1976 indicated there were 70 members at Prospect. He said, "The
church has several young adults with children, and the future looks
good."
Charles Page II served the Circuit as its student pastor only six
months, June 1978 through December 1978. In his Conference report in the
fall of 1978, Page stated that Prospect was "making great
strides." For the first time in its history, the church had begun to
have a worship service every Sunday. This was made possible through the
assistance of Gus Cole, the pastor of the First United Methodist Church of
Monticello.
Renovations and additions that would
continue for a number of years had also begun. Sunday School rooms were
added within the existing structure of the building. The front of the
church was changed to make this possible. There were two front doors, one
on the left and one on the right. Early Methodist Churches had the two
doors in order for women to enter by one door and men to enter by the other
door. They then sat on opposite sides of the church. Those doors were
replaced with a double center door. Three rooms were constructed
downstairs. A portion of the suspended ceiling was removed creating space
for three rooms upstairs. A cement porch with wrought iron railings and
brick steps were also added. This created an entry way or foyer just inside
the church between the
new Sunday School rooms. Fund raisers--such as barbecues, bake sales, and
yard sales-were held
to finance the project.
The student pastor appointment for the
Shady Dale Circuit went to Dale
Mathis in January 1979.
Ruth Kitchens, Prospect's oldest member, fondly remembered Mathis for the
fact that he was so kind during the illness and death of her husband,
Colvin. Every day, for 11 weeks, after Mathis finished his classes at
Emory, he would go by
Emory
Hospital, spend time with Colvin, then drive Ruth home,
sometimes stopping for groceries on the way. Mathis remained on the charge
until June 1981. During that time, the Sunday School rooms at Prospect were
completed, the church was underpinned, water lines were run from the well,
and a bathroom was installed in the corner of one of the downstairs rooms.
According to minutes taken at an administrative board meeting in January
1980, $5,906.23 had been spent on remodeling the church.
There was a burglary at the church, and
the antique chairs and communion table on the pulpit were stolen. New
furniture was ordered from a local cabinet maker. By the time the furniture
was delivered, all of the pieces were paid for by contributions from church
members in memory or honor of their loved ones. The paint on the altar rail
was stripped, and the rail was stained to match the new pulpit furniture. A
sign was ordered to be placed near the road with the name of the church and
the founding date on it. It erroneously read 1875, the date the present
church building was constructed; it remained that way until a new sign
was ordered in 1994.
Weekly preaching services continued with
the aid of Jan Devereaux, pastor of First United Methodist Church of
Monticello, and Art Lackey, a lay speaker from
Covington. There was also a Bible study two Sunday evenings
a month. Mathis reported two six-day revivals in 1980 and 1981. Prospect's
total budget, according to the charge Conference minutes for 1980, was
$2,408.79 with $1,488 of that designated for pastor's salary and expenses.
Roger Mays served
the circuit from June 1981 until June 1984 as its student pastor. In his
report in 1982, Mays described
Prospect
Church as a "Mt.
St. Helens in miniature." He said the church had so
much potential "that it is almost heart-breaking." He wrote that
it was "extremely frustrating to a pastor whose time is divided among
six churches to see a church just sitting there waiting to erupt into a
dynamic, vital force in the community." He also commented that the
people at Prospect were to be "commended for all they do with so
little pastoral attention. They conduct
Vacation
Bible
Schools, Christmas programs, and other activities with a
great deal of enthusiasm, and yearn to do much more." Mays often met
with some of the members of the church for prayer concerning the future of
Prospect
Church.
Art Lackey suffered a heart attack in the
spring of 1982 and could no longer conduct one of the worship services at
Prospect. A general church meeting was held on May 17, 1982, during which the situation was discussed. Mays
was in attendance, as well as the district superintendent, Frank Jenkins.
It was expressed to them that the church desired to have worship services
every Sunday. Some different options were presented and discussed.
|
|
|
|
THE CHURCH DURING A DECADE OF SERVICE
UNDER MIKE WILLARD
As a result of that meeting, Michael K. (Mike) Willard, of Eatonton, was appointed in June
to serve as associate pastor for the Shady Dale Circuit. While playing
football at Presbyterian
College, Willard earned a bachelor's degree in English. He later studied
two years at the Candler School of Theology. When he first came to
Prospect, he was an English teacher and football coach at
Putnam
County
High School. Later he was employed at Horton Homes in
Eatonton. He preached at Prospect two Sundays a month and Mays preached the
other two Sundays. The services were at different times in order to allow
Mays time to travel to the other churches on the circuit. Willard also
preached at one of the other churches on the charge on a regular basis.
When Mays was scheduled to leave the
circuit in 1984, the members of Prospect Church requested that Willard be
appointed as a part-time local preacher who would serve Prospect full time; that is, he would preach
every Sunday, and the services would be scheduled for 1l a.m. Dr. Thompson,
the district superintendent at that time, agreed that it could work but
stated that Prospect would need to remain on the Shady Dale Circuit. Then
Prospect would gradually phase out of that position over a period of years
until the church could meet the criteria to become a station church. For
the first time in the history of the church, Prospect had an 11 a.m. worship service every Sunday of the month.
Also during that time, the women of the
church began to host a monthly program, the purpose of which, according to the
bylaws, was "to help women to continue to develop mentally, socially,
and spiritually, to pray, to apply Bible teaching to their lives, to
minister to one another in unity and love and to serve others in ways that
will glorify Jesus Christ." The program was called Women Alive, and
the first meeting was held in March 1983. Rachel Cunard served as the first
president. Speakers were invited each month to share their testimonies.
Also, a guest was invited to provide special music, and another was asked
to present a brief program on something that would be of interest to those
in attendance. Once a year, a dinner program was planned which included the
entire family. Special guests were invited to entertain and speak. Some
keynote speakers included Marion Bond West, a well known writer, and Greg
Brezina, a former linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons. Women Alive continued
to function and offer ministry to the women of Prospect and the surrounding
area for eight years. Lack of participation and leadership on the part of
the membership brought it to a close.
1984 was another year that saw tremendous
improvements in the physical plant of the church. The old wood slat pews
were removed and sold as mementos. Upholstered pews were ordered and paid
for through donations in honor or memory of loved ones, and appropriate
plaques were placed on the ends of the pews. The church was completely
carpeted and central heating and air conditioning were installed. Although
the windows had new putty placed in them again, they were still fragile. In
order to protect them and provide insulation, screens and storm windows
were installed. These
improvements cost a total of $17, 803.85.
An adult Bible study class began to meet
on Wednesday nights initially under the direction of Stephen Soulen, who
was the pastor of the Shady Dale Circuit. It was agreed that the children
needed to be taught at the same time, so a group of 1l or 12 children met
in one of the upstairs rooms with
Pat Harris and Ellen Boyd as leaders. The
children called themselves "Children Alive." Later when Willard
was able to conduct the Wednesday night study, his young son, Caleb, called
the children's classroom the "upper room."
Notes from an administrative board
meeting in March 1985 indicated numerous ideas were offered for additional
improvements. One notation suggested that a parsonage for
Prospect
Church become a prayer priority. Improved insulation, landscaping,
painting the outside of the church, and the need for nursery facilities
located away from the sanctuary were some of the ideas discussed in that
meeting. As a result of that meeting and others that followed, a mobile
unit was purchased at the cost of $4,061.29. It was used for a nursery and
additional Sunday School rooms. Also during that year, the church grounds
were landscaped.
In his report at the charge Conference in
November 1985, Willard remarked that "the state of the church
(Prospect) is promising...the future looks bright as this congregation
rallies to fulfill a dream." He mentioned the Wednesday night family
activities "being used as a worship experience" and having family
night suppers once a month. He concluded by saying, "We are trying to
reach our full potential as a church family, and God's house in our community."
Prospect's 1986 budget, which was presented at that meeting, was $9,336
including $6,500 for the pastor's support.
Ministry became a real focus in 1987. The
church hosted its first Lay Witness Mission in May. Approximately 20 lay
people from different areas visited the church for the entire weekend. They
stayed in members' homes and presented programs for all ages at the church
and in homes on Friday evening, all day Saturday, and on Sunday morning.
The Mission weekend was a success for a number of reasons.
The participation of the church membership was unprecedented and indicative
of a desire for genuine spiritual renewal. Several follow-up activities
resulted, such as the men's breakfast group and a short-term, home Bible
study called "Ten Brave Christians." Pat Harris, the local
coordinator for the event, later expressed in a letter to the team that,
"many special needs were met...and many received a blessing and
renewal of faith."
The need for larger facilities soon
became even more evident. Although, according to the minutes of
administrative board meetings, plans for building a parsonage were still
discussed, the construction of a fellowship hall was a more frequent topic
of discussion. After many planning meetings, several fund raisers, and much
hard work, an addition to the church became a reality. Under the
supervision of Hubert Cunard as contractor, a 2,700 square foot building
was constructed. The building contained four classrooms, two bathrooms, a
modern kitchen, and a large adjoining dining area with a wood-burning
fireplace. A breezeway was built connecting the fellowship hall with the
rear of the sanctuary. One of the doors that had been removed from the
front of the church in 1978 was brought out of storage and used as an entry
into the church from the back. The total cost of construction was $61,200.
A consecration service, attended by more than 100 people, was held November 8,
1987. Pastor Mike Willard
recognized those people who had made significant contributions; and Roger
Mays, former pastor, delivered the sermon for the homecoming crowd.
The estimated value of the new building
was much more than it actually cost. Many church members had contributed
labor or materials. Most of the furnishings were donated. The loan interest
was offered at a minimum through the Farmers and Merchants Bank of
Eatonton, Willard challenged the different groups within the church to
raise $1,000 each that first year toward the cost of the building. One
significant effort toward that
end was the cookbook that the ladies of the church compiled and had
published. It was titled, "Bountiful Blessings" and featured
drawings by Paige Kelly. A memorable event was the mystery dinner which the
senior ladies prepared and served.
As a result of the enlarged facilities, opportunities
for ministry became unlimited. In the years that have followed, several
seminars have been held at Prospect. Always open to the community, the
seminars have focused on prayer, finances, counseling, and evangelism.
Teacher training sessions have been conducted with instructors from Luther
Rice Seminary, Child Evangelism Fellowship, and neighboring churches. The
church has hosted several video series, including Focus on the Family's
"Turn Your Heart Toward Home," and Billy Graham's "Christian
Life and Witness Course." There have been Wednesday night fellowship
suppers, barbecues for fund raising, and barbecues for fellowship with
people in the community. Before it discontinued,
Women Alive used the building for several
years. One summer, the church hosted monthly fellowship suppers and invited
special music guests. The church has hosted Easter parties for the
children, breakfasts following
Sunrise services, special Thanksgiving dinners, and
countless other activities,
Children's ministry became an emphasis
when the church purchased a van in 1990. Although the original purpose for
the van was to provide transportation for outings, it soon became clear
that it could be used to bring to church children whose parents did not
attend. Joe McLendon has served as the primary driver of the van for
transporting children to Sunday School and worship services on Sunday and
to the Wednesday night activities.
Vacation
Bible
School has become a highlight of the church year, not
just for the children, but for the adults and teens, as well. When VBS was
still held in the mornings, the program was expanded to include a mother's
class. Later, when it became necessary to conduct VBS in the evening, it
seemed only natural to offer something for the entire family.
The summer of 1987 was when the change
was made. Rose Lewis, long-time director of VBS, remembered it as the
summer when Prospect almost did not hold a
Vacation
Bible
School. The mobile unit had been sold to make way for
the new fellowship hall, so space was limited; and workers were fewbecause
nearly all the mothers were working outside their homes. Discouragement
reigned until Lewis encountered two little girls, Heather and Becky
Andrews, and their mother in the grocery store parking lot. The girls were
seated in the car while their mother, Linda, was unloading the grocery
cart. Lewis was met with sweet, smiling faces and animated waves from
inside the car; and the mother, instead of saying "Hello," simply
said, "These girls talk
about
Vacation
Bible
School all year long." The response, as Lewis
walked away, was, "Yes, Lord, we will have a
Vacation
Bible
School this summer." Three weeks later, with the
help of Eric Arena, who had been hired to work with the youth, and by
changing the time to evening in order for the working moms to participate,
the first Vacation
Bible
School involving the entire family was held. That has
been the pattern for a number of years. The adults and teens sometimes meet
together to enjoy the same special music guests and speakers. It must be
noted also that the mother that Rose Lewis encountered in the parking lot
that day and her girls are members now and are very much involved in the other programs of
the church.
When the number of children coming to
church on Sunday increased, a Children's Church program was organized under
the leadership of Pat Harris. There have been a least 100 different
children who have had the experience of
a worship service designed for their age level since the Children' s Church
program began.
At one time, the Wednesday night
activities became so crowded with children that plans were made to bring
the children from school on Wednesday afternoons for an extended time of
Bible stories, games, recreation, music, and crafts. The children also
visited the nursing home in
Monticello once a month, followed by a trip to the Dairy
Queen. This program involved a number of adult leaders, including Lisa
Hipps, Pat Harris, Joe McLendon, Robin Hill and Rose Lewis. Even though it
was a meaningful and successful experience, the program returned to
Wednesday night after about six months.
There have also been puppet shows and
other special events for the children. Christmas programs have been
presented by the children for several years. A music camp was held one
summer under the direction of Judy Rupard, program director for First
United Methodist Church of Covington. The children have gone on special
trips to the Atlanta Zoo, the Yellow River
game ranch, Stone Mountain, and the skating rink. Playground equipment,
costing $2,200 was purchased in 1991. There are now plans to extend the
play area behind the fellowship hall.
The youth have experienced several years
under the leadership of successful directors. Ricky Nelson led the group
for a couple of years. As mentioned earlier, Eric Arena was hired as a
youth worker one summer. Jim and Betty Daniel served for a number of years
as the youth leaders. Presently, Lisa and Randall Harper, Danny and Helen
Wild, and Rachet Cunard are the youth coaches. Lisa Harper is the youth
leader. The youth group has been on several ski trips, one visit to the
beach for a retreat, and several outings to concerts. They have had swim
parties and cookouts and have gone tubing down the river on several
occasions. The youth group has held numerous fund raisers to support their
programs. Probably the ones that have been the most fun have been the pizza
sales. Each time, the group spent several well-supervised hours in the
fellowship hall adding various toppings to pre-made crusts, and shrink
wrapping the finished product. Before delivering the pizzas to their
customers, they had their own pizza party.
The youth have also been involved in
ministry within the church, have offered service in clean-up of the church
and grounds, and have lent assistance at fund raisers. Several teens
occasionally have assisted in Children's Church and
Vacation
Bible
School. Seven young people received training by
attending, along with several adults, an 11-week course offered by Child
Evangelism Fellowship in
Atlanta in 1993. Over the years, a number of teens and
adults (approximately 50% of the active membership) have attended the
week-long Institute of
Basic LifePrinciples held in
Atlanta every summer. Rachel Cunard has coordinated the
event every year.
In 1991, a highlight of the youth
ministry was an outdoor pageant portraying the Easter story. It was
directed by Lisa Harper and was held on the hillside near the Pruett's
lake. Elaborate props were constructed, costumes were sewn, and a sound
system was set up. The pageant was well attended by the entire community.
The Bible costumes, which were sewn by
several ladies of the church for the Easter pageant, have been used on a
number of occasions since that time. One summer, the VBS theme was centered
on Bible times; and all the teachers and children dressed in costume. The
costumes have also been used for impromptu skits and Maundy Thursday
observances.
The Holy Week services were a new
experience for the church. For several years, special services have been held
leading up to the sunrise service at
the Pruett's lake.
Ministry has extended to all ages at Prospect.
The senior adults have been on several outings, including a one-day trip to
the mountains. They have especially enjoyed the fellowship and luncheon offered at New Rocky Creek Church
once a month by Mary Williams. Other groups of adults have participated in
a number of trips away from the church for the purpose of fellowship and
inspiration. The ladies of the church have enjoyed several weekend retreats.
There have been church picnics, Christmas parties, and New Year's Eve
parties hosted by different members. Groups of adults have made trips
to Stone Mountain, Indian Springs Camp Meeting, and to various
restaurants in the area. Several couples in the church renewed their
marriage vows in special services held at the church.
The members of Prospect made a pledge in
1989 to begin to tithe the income of the church for support of missionaries
or ministries that had some connection to the church. This would be in
addition to missionary support provided through the Conference
apportionment's. The amount of money that is sent each quarter is not
significant, but the outreach is tremendous. As a result of that pledge,
the church has regularly sent offerings to Child Evangelism Fellowship, a
ministry that has provided much training for those who work with children
in the church.
Others whom the church supports are Beth
Wilson, a native of Monticello, who works with Campus Crusade for Christ;
Barbara Hardin, a friend of Beth Wild's daughter, who is a Wycliffe Bible
translator in Papua, New Guinea; Bill and Elsie Turpin, Mike Willard's aunt
and uncle, who are OMS missionaries in Hungary; and Dick and Faith Weber,
OMS World Intercessors. The Webers, who live in
Canton,
Georgia, have conducted prayer seminars at Prospect.
The church also sends offerings to Gail
and Dean Davis, OMS missionaries in
Ecuador. They have visited the church on several
occasions to report on their work among the Saraguro Indians.
Representatives from Gideons International are invited to present a program
once a year; and their organization receives a portion of Prospect' s
tithe.
The church is also involved in local
ministry and outreach through the Jasper County Care Corps. Mary Mildred
Walden and Florence Harris regularly attend those meetings to keep the
church informed of local needs. Used Sunday School materials and other
Christian literature are sent periodically to the Reverend Samuel Thiong'o
in Kenya,
East
Africa. Thiong'o
recently paid a memorable visit to the church.
An additional measure of support goes to
Lyle Allen, a student minister at the Candler School of Theology. Allen is
the son of Loice Allen, Jr., one of the descendants of those "Allens
who abound" that John Boykin McGehee spoke of in his autobiography.
Allen pastors Cokes
Chapel
United
Methodist
Church in
Sharpsburg,
Georgia.
Colin Kelly, treasurer of Prospect UMC
for over 20 years, reported to the 1990 charge Conference that a total of
$1,776.50 was given through October for mission specials and local
benevolence. In addition, $200
was sent to the United Methodist Children's Home. The pastor's salary,
including travel and utilities, was $8,125. In October 1993, Kelly reported
that the mission specials and local benevolence totaled $3,099.97. The
pastor's salary was $10,000 in 1993 and was increased to $11,300 for 1994.
The Methodist Children's Home offering for 1994 was $445.42. The mortgage
for the fellowship hall was paid off in May 1993. A couple of Sundays
later, the pastor and congregation went outside the church after the
worship service, burned the mortgage papers, and dedicated the building
to God's service.
Prospect's outreach has also extended
into the surrounding community. The church has held revivals almost yearly, and
has hosted evangelistic and inspirational films and New Year's Eve Watch
Night services. There have been a number of special speakers invited to the
church, including several of the missionaries. A Lay Shepherd's program was
instituted in 1989 to assist the pastor in caring for the needs of church
members and others in the church family. Sarah Hinnant, a student at the
Candler School of Theology, was hired to serve the church as music
director. She remained for a number of months. An Adventure in Discipleship
weekend was held at Prospect in 1992. Outdoor baptisms have become an
annual tradition. Sunday evening services
were held for a couple of years, and prayer
meetings have also been a part of the life of the church.
The church has always been quick to
respond to the needs of others, whether it was someone in the church family
or people elsewhere who were affected by floods or tornadoes. For example,
on
Sunday, January 30, 1994, the church participated in the "Souper Bowl," an
international effort to help others by encouraging people to give one
dollar as they leave worship service. The program which was begun in 1990,
had nearly 1,000 churches around the country to participate in 1994. The
money that was collected at Prospect was sent to the Jasper County Care
Corps. More recently, $527 was collected and sent to aid victims in
flood-ravaged south Georgia.
In addition, a small group of women,
including Bill Kelly, Rosemary Pruett, and Mary Ann Nelson, have regularly
visited the nursing
home in Monticello and presented a musical program for the
residents. Bill Kelly has provided music at the piano and organ for worship
services at the church for 54 1/2 years. Misty Boyd, a high school senior,
has served as pianist for several years. Misty is also chairperson of the
worship committee.
The church has continued to make
improvements when necessary. The ceiling of the sanctuary was insulated in
1992 and new wiring and light fixtures were installed. A new piano and a
new organ have been purchased for the church. There has been much work done
on the cemetery, including organizing the Plots and adopting some rules pertaining
to who can be buried there. A perpetual fund has also been established. The
church and fellowship hall were painted again in 1993. Two different sound
systems have been placed in the church. The first system which was
installed in 1986, was stolen in a second burglary that occurred in 1988.
Many other valuable items were also taken from the fellowship hall,
including a microwave oven, television, video cassette recorder, and vacuum
cleaner. They have all since been replaced.
Along with the sound systems came the
tape ministry which Mary Mildred Walden has maintained for a number of
years. She purchased the equipment necessary to copy tapes. She files
copies for reference and distributes other copies of taped services to
those who have missed services because of illness, jobs, or Children's
Church. Walden has also organized the church's library that contains 225
books and 28 video tapes, most of which have been donated.
An earth-moving experience at the close
of a worship service in early January 1992 brought about other necessary
repairs, this time to the foundation of the church. The entire congregation
that morning had been requested to come to the altar. While everyone was in
prayer, the floor began to creak and groan rather loudly. After very careful
inspection, it was decided that the long center beam had given way due to
termite damage and needed to be replaced along with six supporting columns.
The church was closed for a couple of weeks while those repairs were made.
In the interim, worship services were held in the fellowship hall.
After 12 years of service to
Prospect
Church, Willard wrote a letter to the district superintendent stating
that he would not be available for appointment back to Prospect. Copies
were sent to members of the Pastor-Parish Relations Committee. Willard
wrote, "I believe for the church to grow, a change is necessary. Until
the bird is pushed from the nest, it will not try to fly. Prospect needs to
fly...With the proper leadership, help from the district and Annual Conference,
plus the ever present moving of the Holy Spirit, Prospect can move toward
reaching her vast potential."
A glance back at the accomplishments of
the previous 12 years is all that is needed to evaluate Willard's service
to Prospect
Church. His wife, Shanon, was as much a part of ministry as Mike. Her
music often added to the worship service, and her talents for working with
the children in musicals at Christmas and during
Vacation
Bible
School will long be remembered. The presence of the
Chrismon tree at Christmas is due to Shanon's initiating and organizing the
efforts of the women to make the ornaments for the tree. The candlesticks
and cross that adorn the altar were given by the Willards in memory of
Mike's mother. Mike had wanted the church to have parament sets symbolic of
the different religious seasons. Beth Wild provided the funds for those and
she and Mary Mildred Walden sewed them and had them embroidered.
Mike and Shanon's children, Caleb and
Kelly, were born after Mike and Shanon came to Prospect. They provided many
anecdotes for Mike's sermons, and they hold a special place in the hearts
of the members of the church.
After much prayer and a meeting in March
with District Superintendent Dean Milford, the church learned that
Milford had already begun the search for someone who
could fill the unique needs of the church. Prospect still was not in a
position to become a station church with a membership of only 108, but the
dream for a pastor to be able to live at least part-time in the community was
soon to become a reality.
|
|
HISTORY — 1995
True to the tradition
of the past several years, 1995 has been productive and fruitful in the
life and ministry of Prospect United Methodist Church with much
accomplished in the spiritual and physical dimensions.
DISTRICT CHURCH AWARD
Prospect UMC was named
"Small
Membership
Church of the Year" for 1995 in the Griffin
District. The annual award is presented to a church of 250 members or less
for outstanding achievement in ministry. The plaque of distinction was
presented to the church in a celebration of God’s faithfulness.
A PARSONAGE FOR PROSPECT
The
ground breaking for Prospect community’s first parsonage was held on April 2, 1995. The renovations will total 1900 square feet of
heated space with a brick exterior, three bedrooms, 2 baths, modern
kitchen, great room with a fireplace, and a deck. The building committee
appointed to oversee the project was Hubert Cunard as chairman, Edwin
Allen, Kyle Allen, J. R. & Bert Cobb, Rachel Cunard, Jim & June
Dalton, Pat Harris, Elizabeth Harrison, Colin Kelly, Rose Lewis, Billy
Pruett, and Danny Wild. Hubert Cunard was asked to serve as the contractor.
The untold hours he has donated to the building of a home for God’s
minister only the Lord knows, and the church stands in grateful
appreciation of his service.
Other church members
have consistently given their financial support, time, and skills. They
have done clean up regularly, and are presently painting. Billy Pruett has
completed grading and is installing the septic system. Charles Lewis is
doing the plumbing, and Frank Harrison has donated the installation of the
wiring. Pat Harris and Rosemary Pruett organized a gigantic rummage sale at
the Harris Warehouse with 100% participation from church members. Hutch and
Flo donated many items form their house sale. As a result of the efforts, a
total of $2004.00 was raised for parsonage furnishings. Additional
donations include: L. O. & Nancy Benton — a set of patio furniture and
all the appliances; Jimmy and Amy Cunard — living room furniture, a bedroom
suite, and kitchen table and chairs, Pat and Jerry Harris — a bedroom
suite. In addition, Joe McLendon secured a donation of hard wood flooring,
and Flo and Hutch have donated various items including a freezer and
microwave. Bert Cobb is heading up a committee to collect funds for
landscaping. She and J. R. have purchased a cast bronze plaque for the front
entrance.
On July 1, 1995 the
Church relinquished to the Shady Dale Circuit all rights and
responsibilities of their portion of the Shady Dale Circuit parsonage and
property.
‘SAM JONES’ MINISTRY
Prospect has a
ministry to send forth The Prospect Players drama group. In early February
Lisa, Randall, Sandi, April, and Lacey Harper began their ministry of
presenting the story of Sam Jones, the famous Methodist evangelist of the
nineteenth century to varied audiences. "Sam Jones — The Wonder of the
Ages," written and directed by Rose Lewis, has been presented seven
times in churches around the state. The highlight of the year was the
performance in San Jones’ Cartersville home, Roselawn, for the Sam Gamble
Jones family reunion. Kevin Glaze printed publicity brochures, Hubert
Cunard built sets, costumes were sewn and purchased, an informative display
was prepared, and permanent props were accumulated. Lisa and Randall
designed and ordered special T-shirts for the cast and crew. There are also
some available for sale.
The stage crew has
included at various times Rachel and Hubert Cunard, Helen and Danny Wild,
Mac McLendon, Gene Lee, Alex McLendon, Misty Boyd, Joe McLendon, J. R.
Cobb, and Jan Williams. Different members of the crew and cast that have
been called on to present the closing musical number include Flo Hutchings,
Helen and Danny Wild, Misty Boyd, and Jan Williams.
Prospect
Church members donated funds to help begin the ministry. Money was also
raised with the dedication of Easter lilies. Since that time, every church
has graciously received a love offering for the group to help offset the
expenses. The group prayed for a trailer to transport the set and props,
and two have been miraculously provided for their use.!
SPECIAL SERVICES FOR 1995
Easter was a highlight
of the church experience with the Lenten Tree of Symbols and the Holy Week
services of Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday. The early
morning "Sonrise" service overlooking the Pruett’s lake was
followed by breakfast in the fellowship hall. The adult choir presented an
Easter musical, "From Glory to Glory," under the leadership of
choir director Flo Hutchings. They were dressed in new choir robes sewn by
ladies in the church. Fabric and materials for the robes were also donated
by church members. Judy and Butch Roberts carpeted the stairs, an upstairs
room was converted into a choir room, and the choir made its grand entrance
from the second floor.
The children’s workers
hosted an evangelistic Easter party for the children of the church and
community. There was the traditional Easter egg hunt with a surprise visit
from a larger than life bunny, the sharing of the Easter story, and a
cookout under the new pavilion. The next evening, the children of the Big
"C" Club along with the Youth presented their first annual Easter
musical, "Footsteps of Jesus" directed by Ellen & Misty Boyd,
Lisa Harper, and Helen Wild.
Other special services
included the National Day of Prayer Service for children and adults planned
by Margaret Scandrett. Special recognitions were made on Mother’s Day and
Father’s Day. A "Bill Kelly Day" was held in honor of Bill’s
service as church pianist for 53 years, Bill was presented with a plaque
and a corsage by Ellen and Misty Boyd. "Hutch Day" was held
honoring Hutch on his 75th birthday
and marking his 50 years in the ministry. The church presented to him a
beautiful hall tree with engraved plaque to be placed in the parsonage.
Prospect’s fall
revival services were preached by John Beck, a co-worker of Edwin Allen,
and Charles Roper, an evangelist from
New
Rocky
Creek
Baptist
Church. Highlights of the year’s services included the
baptismal services for Edwin Allen, Heather Andrews, Jennifer Bowling, Amy
Stewart, and Gene Lee, as well as an infant’s christening for John Wesley
Cobb, grandson of J. R. and Bert Cobb.
Special events
included the youth group hosting a dinner party for the senior citizens of
the church and community under the leadership of Youth Director, Lisa
Harper. The delicious meal was prepared and served by the youth and their
sponsors. The fellowship hall was beautifully decorated, there was special
music, and a photographer spent the evening posing individuals and groups
in front of a lovely backdrop. Additional special occasions included a
wedding shower for Amy Stewart, Amy and Mac McLendon’s wedding and
reception, and a baby shower for B. J. and Greg Matkovich. Lib
Harrison’s recent donation of 100 glass plates and punch
cups has made such occasions especially attractive. Flo and Hutch presented
the congregation with a beautiful set of stainless steel flatware in a
handsome wooden storage chest. The silverware had been purchased with a
‘miracle 15 cents’. They challenged someone to take the same 15 cents and
add to it every day for a year. The challenge was accepted by Danny, Helen,
Josh and Courtney Wild.
ONGOING MINISTRY
All the regular areas
of ministry have continued and grown with five regular Sunday School
classes held each Sunday, and Wednesday night programs for children, youth,
and adults. The youth held several fund raisers and had their annual ski
retreat in March. Children’s Church is still offered during the sermon
time. The church van, driven by Joe McLendon or J. R. Cobb, transports
children in the community to services.
Vacation
Bible
School classes were held for the children. In
preparation for VBS, Jim Dalton painted a beautiful backdrop. Kyle Allen,
Duane Pitts and her daughter Chrissy, along with her friends, also did some
additional artwork. Danny Wild led the children’s music and kept the
nursery. Ellen Boyd told the missionary story, Lisa Harper taught the Bible
verse, and Rose Lewis presented the Bible lesson. Pat Harris and Misty Boyd
assembled crafts with the children. Rosemary Pruett, Merry Faulkner, Julie
and Christen Altman were the puppeteers. Refreshments were also served by
Rosemary, Merry, and Julie. Kevin Glaze coordinated speakers and music for
the youth and adult classes. The highlight of the week was a cookout
organized by Kyle Allen. The VBS offering will go to provide for a handicap
entrance ramp into the church and fellowship hall.
The young adults have
enjoyed many social outings and host a Bible study twice a month at Kyle
Allen’s home. A Friendship Bible Coffee, "Christ, the Theme of the
Bible," has been offered for the ladies of the church and community.
The study has been well attended and meets twice a month on Wednesday
mornings. The Men’s Breakfast has met most months of the year.
Additionally, the Senior Ladies Sunday School class has paid regular visits
to the nursing home in
Monticello and had quite a memorable trip to the Cherry Blossom Festival in
Macon.
Kevin Glaze, who
handles the weekly bulletins and inserts, printed newsletters on several
occasions. Rose Lewis maintains photograph albums that have documented
nearly every event mentioned in this yearly report. Hubert Cunard recorded
the worship services and Mary Mildred Walden has made copies of the tapes
for distribution. She is currently processing the many books donated to the
library by Kevin Glaze. Another member, Andrea Fann, has begun a clowning
ministry and his visited with the children on several occasions.
Ministry is indeed
ongoing. At the present time, plans are underway for a wedding shower for
Amy Kelly, a Thanksgiving service, Hanging of the Greens, caroling, and a
Watch Night Service. Also, practices are being held for both a children’s
and youth play and an adult Christmas musical. As a supplement to the
written history of the first 150 years, Rose Lewis has begun work compiling
all the information available concerning the church cemetery. It is
projected that the cemetery history will be completed in 1996.
MISSIONS
Support has continued
for Beth Wilson with Campus Crusade for Christ; Barbara Hardin who is with
Wycliff Bible Translators in
Papua,
New
Guinea; and Bill and Elsie Turpin, Dick and Faith Weber, and Dean and
Gail Davis, all OMS missionaries. Lyle Allen did not accept another
student/minister appointment in June and has devoted full time as a student
at Candler School of Theology in order to complete his divinity degree. The
church doubled its support during this time. The church also supports Child
Evangelism Fellowship, a ministry that has provided teacher training for
several church members. Special offerings were collected for the Gideons
and the Methodist Children’s Home. Gifts and food were given to the Jasper
County Care Corps at Christmas time. "Souper" Bowl Sunday
provided an opportunity to restock the JCCC pantry shelves last January,
and a successful food drive was held again this fall.
The Lay Shepherd
ministry has proven to be vital for the church and the community. Numerous
meals have been taken to Eloise Loyd’s while her husband has received
hospice care. J. R. and Bert Cobb have filled an essential role in Lauren
Windburn’s life. They have offered emotional support, seen to his everyday
needs, and were the catalyst for his spiritual birth when he entered the
hospital. They have subsequently moved him to a nursing home. The church
and community provided a vital support for Rachel Cunard during the time of
her recovery from serious injuries received in a automobile accident. Some
of the other members who have received lay shepherd care during the past
year are Liz Harrison, Robert Lewis, and Ellen Boyd.
OUR THANKS
The church itself is
often on the receiving end from those outside the church. After the
burglary last October, it was decided that a burglar system was needed.
David King of Trust Security, Inc. installed the equipment necessary at his
own expense and provides the monitoring fee free of charge each month.
There are not adequate
words to express the gratitude of an entire congregation of believers to
our pastor E. G. Hutchings, Jr. and his wife
Florence. They both have fit into this church as
beautifully as a hand fits into a glove. Flo has served as choir director
and Sunday School teacher. The strides the choir has made have been
phenomenal. J. R. Cobb, our professional musician, has said he has learned
more about music from Flo than he has in all his years in the business.
Hutch’s dedication and service to Prospect and God in the face of his own
health crisis have endeared him to his congregation. He has exhibited a
single mindedness of purpose that we all would do well to follow in our own
lives. We have know his love for us as individuals and as a church. His
praises and compliments have been never ending. Flo has told some of us
that when they are with family, she warns them not ask how the "little
church" is doing because Hutch will talk the rest of the afternoon
about Prospect. Hutch’s life is an inspiration. His own words from the
Pastor’s Corner in a bulletin some time back express what we so often need
to be reminded of:
Live is so fragile for all of us. How
important to make decisions each day that count for eternity! Eternity is
waiting for all of us, but if we can accept the pain that comes in this
life and choose to react positively we can avoid misery. We always have the
option to choose joy and hope. Yes there are days when we all have our
pits, our low days. It is at these times we need to pray more and reach for
the hand of Jesus to lift us. His hand is already extended. We need only to
grasp it. Try it and you’ll see. He is there.
|
|
|
|
The Year of 1996
Since the last charge conference, God has
done much in the life and ministry of Prospect UMC. At that conference,
held November 5, 1995, the church received a gift of $2500 from the
district fund toward the construction of a parsonage.
Following the conference was the usual
festive season of Thanksgiving and Christmas services, including a special
Thanksgiving meal in the fellowship hall, a children’s program, observance
of Advent, and a Christmas cantata presented by the adult choir. Lynda
Williams hosted a Sunday School Christmas party at her home. In cooperation
with the Jasper County Care Corps, the church collected food and gifts for
two Jasper County families. One Sunday afternoon several adults and
children delivered fruit baskets to shut-ins in the community and to
residents of The Retreat.
In the meantime, much hard work went into
completing the parsonage before New Year’s Eve, the goal date for
occupancy. Many church members and some non-members contributed time and
skills. Furniture donated by Amy and Jimmy Cunard and the appliances
donated by L. O. Benton, III were delivered and placed. Carolyn Goolsby
also crocheted and donated a beautiful afghan for the parsonage.
On Sunday, December 31, 1995, District
Superintendent Dean Milford and his wife were present for E. G. Hutchings,
Jr.’s last day as pastor of Prospect UMC. After serving the church for 18
months, Hutch was retiring due to health reasons. After appropriate
recognitions were given to Hutch and Flo, D. S. Milford delivered the
morning message. The announcement was also made that Mack Barnes, Jr., who
was present for the occasion, would finish out the term of E. G. Hutchings,
Jr. beginning January 1, 1996. The entire congregation then made its way to
the nearby parsonage where a beautiful consecration service was conducted.
That same evening, the church hosted a New Year Eve’s party in the
parsonage; and afterwards, Hutch and Flo spent the night and New Year’s Day
there.
Mack Barnes, Jr., a student minister at
Candler School of Theology, began his ministry at Prospect by preaching at
the January 14 service. Although his home was in Atlanta, he stayed several
nights a week in the parsonage.
Many events characterized the next few
months. On January 21, Colin Kelly, who had faithfully served as church
treasurer for over 20 years, was honored during the worship service. Colin
later died in August after a brief illness.
For the past three years, Prospect has
participated in "Souper Bowl Sunday", a project for supplying
local food pantries. Each member of the congregation is asked to give just
one dollar as they leave church. This year, we contributed $57.25 to the
Jasper County Care Corps.
Other highlights included Easter with its
usual observances. The children had their annual Easter party, there was a
"Sonrise" service with breakfast following, and the choir once
again presented a cantata during the morning worship.
A parsonage workday was held in May in an
effort to complete any unfinished work. Edwin Allen installed a light for
the playground area.
Mother’s Day was festively observed with
a breakfast prepared by the men and corsages for special moms. A fish fry,
which provided a great time of fellowship, was also held in May. On
Father’s Day, Lisa, April, and Lacey Harper provided a fun way of
recognizing dads in the congregation.
Mack’s appointment at Prospect ended with
the June term. A cookout was held in his honor on Saturday evening, May 15;
and on Sunday, Mack was recognized for his ministry at Prospect during the
worship service.
Lyle Allen, a former member whom the
church had helped support during his last year of seminary, graduated
Candler School of Theology. On June 2, he was invited to deliver the
morning message. His commendation was read, and the church enjoyed a
covered dish dinner afterwards.
Elton Lawson, a member of the North
Georgia Conference and a resident of Monticello for five years, was
appointed as pastor of Prospect beginning June 23. He had been granted
disability leave by the North Georgia Conference in December, 1994, but had
experienced a miraculous improvement in his health. He and his wife Vergie
moved into the parsonage in June.
An extremely busy summer followed with a
successful Vacation Bible School the very next week. Many adults, teens,
and children attended. The theme for VBS was "Going for the
Gold", in keeping with the centennial summer Olympics held in Atlanta.
Lynda Williams painted several beautiful oil paintings which illustrated
the crowns that Christians may earn. Larry Bowers from Red Oak UMC was the
guest teacher for the adults and teens. After their session each evening,
many of the adults participated in making 650 salvation bracelets which Child
Evangelism Fellowship teams later distributed during the Olympics. CEF is
just one of the ministries that Prospect supports on a regular basis. On
the Sunday following VBS, Elton baptized his infant grandson; and Paden
Davis was baptized in his family’s private pond that afternoon.
Jerry and Pat Harris hosted an adult
Sunday School party at their Lake Oconee house. A group of adults went to
Indian Springs camp meeting in August. J. R. and Bert Cobb hosted a
church-wide cookout at their home. Randy and Debbie Martin invited the
children and youth to their home for a swimming party before school began.
The church held a successful fund-raising
barbecue on September 14. The Jonesmen Quartet form Jones Memorial United
Methodist Church provided some special outdoor entertainment. Revival began
the next evening with Scott Brown from Turin United Methodist Church as
guest evangelist and his wife Amanda as musician. The choir from Monticello
First United Methodist Church and Lindsey Tyler presented special music on
Sunday evening. A time of fellowship was held each evening.
On September 29, Misty Boyd, who has
served beautifully as pianist for a number of years, was honored with a
special day and a gift of money for school. A covered dish luncheon was
held afterwards.
A need in the family of Randall Harper’s
brother was made known and the church responded with Christmas in September
for the children in the family. Lynda Williams went back-to-school shopping
with funds collected for that purpose. Prospect also donated $500 toward
the United Methodist Children’s Home Workday Offering.
The debt on the parsonage has been
lowered to $5500. Work is continuing there including the recent addition of
window treatments sewn by Rose Lewis and her friend and neighbor, Thelma
Ferguson. Robert Lewis, Debbie and Randy Martin. J. R. Cobb, and Liz
Harrison were all involved in the tremendous task of hanging rods and
valances. The landscaping was accomplished along with the special flower
garden honoring Hutch and Flo. At this writing, Hutch’s health is
consistently deteriorating.
The men’s breakfasts have begun again
with the women also invited, giving them an additional opportunity to pray
for the needs and concerns of the church. Lynda Williams has spearheaded an
effort to improve the nursery facilities, including painting, new curtains,
and the collection of new toys. Friendship Bible Coffees, the home Bible
studies sponsored by Stonecroft Ministries, have also resumed at Debbie
Martin’s home and at several places in Monticello. Stonecroft is another of
the ministries which Prospect supports that reaches people for Christ
outside the parameters of the Prospect community. Other plans are being
implemented to enrich the life of the church through the Thanksgiving and
Christmas seasons.
There has been much sadness in the church
this year with the homegoing of several members. Eloise Loyd, who had cared
for her terminally ill husband for many months, preceded him in death by
several weeks. Florence Harris, who had been a member of Prospect since
moving to Jasper County in 1984, died in April. A beautiful tribute was
paid her at a memorial service at the church on April 14. As mentioned
earlier, Colin Kelly died on August 10. With so great a cloud of witnesses,
ministry must and does continue.
"Blessed are the people whose God is
Lord." Psalm 144:15
|
|
|
|
Holding Forth The Word Of Life - 1997
Historical reports are prepared for each
charge conference, not only to inform the District Superintendent of what
God has done in and through the church for the past year, but also to serve
as a reminder to the local congregation. As always, there is much to relate
from this past year because Prospect united Methodist Church is an
extremely active church, and God has accomplished great things once again
in the life of His church.
The last charge conference was held in
the afternoon of November 10, 1996. Later in the evening, a county-wide
service and covered dish dinner were hosted by Monticello Methodist Church
with thirteen members from Prospect attending. That particular day seemed
to serve as a kick off for the gatherings that usually highlight the holiday
season along with some new activities. The ladies of the church held their
first prayer breakfast in the church library that morning while the men
were enjoying their monthly breakfast together.
The annual pilgrim dinner and a
candlelight worship service were held the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Just
a few days later, fellowship and food provided the background for the
Hanging of the Greens, decorating the church and fellowship hall for
Christmas. Debbie and Randy Martin hosted a church-wide Christmas party.
There was also Christmas visitation, caroling, and delivering fruit baskets
to shut-ins and residents of the Retreat. Several of those who were visited
last year have since gone home to be with the Lord. Several children
participated and were a blessing to those who were visited. They enjoyed
the trip out for pizza afterwards.
The adult choir presented a Christmas
cantata entitled "The First Noel." Observance of Advent was also
a highlight of the Christmas season with different families lighting the candles
each week. The end of the year was celebrated at Randall and Ann Chancey’s
home at Jackson Lake.
Elton Lawson announced in early January
that he was resigning as pastor of Prospect effective in June. In a church
bulletin, he expressed his thanks to God for giving him the opportunity to
preach the gospel. He also said, "I thank each one of you who has
recognized my disability and my inability to be as active as I want to
be...I wish and pray for your continued growth in ministry.
E. G. Hutchings, Jr., beloved former
pastor, died January 15. Several members attended his service in Decatur
and the memorial service at his home church in Deep Step, Georgia.
Church officer training was held in
January with a representative from the District Office conducting the
workshop. It was determined that a different format was needed for our size
church. A called charge conference on February 16 approved the new
structure.
Special offerings were received for the
annual Souper Bowl Sunday with $117 going to the local Care Corp. The
annual Workday offering for the united Methodist Children’s Home was
promoted as well as the United Methodist Homeless special offering.
The church honored Elton’s birthday with
a covered dish luncheon on March 16. He noted that Prospect was the first
church to ever celebrate his birthday. The children’s annual Easter Party
was held March 22, which included a Bible lesson, egg hunt, and
entertainment by Molli, the rabbit. Palm Sunday followed with the children
marching through the sanctuary with palm branches. The Pruetts once again
hosted a "Sonrise" service at their lake. Breakfast was then
enjoyed in the fellowship hall.
Spring was marked with a children’s trip
to Discovery Zone in Atlanta, a Vacation Bible School Workshop in Atlanta,
and the beginning of another ministry outlet for the women. The ladies held
the first of several salad luncheons on April 30. Flo Hutchings was invited
to come and share with the ladies.
Additional work was accomplished at the
parsonage. Flo and Hutch had given money for trees to be planted in honor
of their daughter Florence and in memory of their son, E. G. Hutchings,
III. Those were planted along with the flower garden. The mortgage on the
parsonage was also paid in full. It is significant to note that in ten
years, Prospect has built and paid for a fellowship hall, a pavilion, and a
parsonage.
Cornelia Lewis’ home was completely
destroyed by fire on June 4. The church and community rallied around her
with substantial monetary gifts, a shower that helped to replenish many
lost items, and much physical work that enabled her to get into a new house
as quickly as possible. One church member provided interest-free loans that
made it possible to finance her new home before the insurance company could
settle the claim. Cornelia was established in her new home in less than
three weeks after the fire. God is still in the miracle business!
Dr. John Sorrow and his wife Helen came
to Prospect in June. John retired from Gordon’s Chapel in Athens and asked
to be appointed to a part-time pastorate in the Griffin district. He has a
Master of Theology degree and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Candler
School of Theology. He began pastoral work in the United Methodist Church
in 1964. John said he appreciated "the heritage of Prospect and the
opportunity to be a part of it." A picnic was held at J. R. and Bert
Cobb’s June 29 in order to welcome the Sorrows to our church.
A VBS kick-off swim party and cookout
were held at hunter Pope Country Club in Monticello. A successful Vacation
Bible School followed the next week. Once again the entire family was
involved. Randy Martin had recently volunteered to work with the youth; therefore,
he taught the youth class. Larry Bowers from Red Oak UMC returned to teach
the adults a series of lessons on evangelism. The children’s theme was
"Proclaim Christ Around the World, Around the Corner." Many
volunteers were involved with the children’s program. In a planning session
several weeks before, the VBS committee was discussing how to use the
children’s missionary offering when a missionary appeared at the door,
heard the word "missionary" and said he was a missionary looking
for support. He was Terry Smith with Light for Living Missions. The
committee later unanimously decided that God was directing them to donate
the week’s offering to his mission. Terry attended Sunday School and
worship service two weeks before VBS, then preached in the morning service
the Sunday before VBS and again to the children on Thursday night during
VBS. It was an exciting time as most of the children that night indicated
that they would like to become missionaries and others prayed for the first
time to receive Jesus as their Savior. The children and teens donated a
total of $184.24, which was given to a children’s home in India. Adults
contributed another $100 for India national missionaries. Later, Terry
wrote about his experience with Prospect in the Light for Living
newsletter. He said, " Everyone was aware of God’s Spirit moving in
many areas of the church. They prayed and worked very hard. It is a
privilege to have had a part in the work of such dedicated saints. Thank
God for seasons of blessings." A cookout and commencement program,
which were well attended by parents, were also held that last night.
A group from the church attended a Friday
evening service at Indian Springs Camp Meeting. Pat and Jerry Harris hosted
a fish fry at their lake home on Lake Oconee on August 23. The ladies
continued their monthly salad luncheons and also made trips to Lane’s Peach
Packing Plant in Fort Valley, the Georgia National Fair at Perry, and
Juliette. Friendship Bible Coffees were held at the church, at Bert Cobb’s
home, and more recently at Judy Robert’s home. The men’s breakfast resumed
along with the ladies’ prayer breakfast.
The Prospect Players were invited to
perform "Sam Jones, the Wonder of the Ages," for the
Chattahoochee Valley Historical Society in Lanett, Alabama, on September
21, in celebration of Sam P. Jones’ 150th birthday. He was born in nearby
Oak Bowery and many people in the area are familiar with his ministry.
Since the play had not been presented in a while, the Players gave a
repeat, "dress-rehearsal" performance on September 14 for
Prospect. On October 23, the Players performed again at nearby Bethlehem
Baptist Church. Schedules are being worked out for additional performances
next year.
Prospect continues to support several
different missionaries on a regular basis as stated in the financial
report. The church had the opportunity this summer to lend support to
Andrea Fann, a former member, who made a short-term missionary trip to
Estonia and Poland with Operation Mobilization. The adult Sunday School class
has made a contribution toward another missionary trip that Andrea and June
Dalton are making to Romania in December with Leadership Training
International in order to minister to the children in orphanages in
Romania.
Ministry plans are continuing at Prospect
with Thanksgiving services, Christmas celebrations, and plans for the New
Year. Ellen Boyd and Lisa Harper are working with the children and youth on
a special Christmas musical to be presented December 14.
Physical needs of the church are still being
met. A handicap ramp was designed and built under the supervision of
Randall Chancey at the cost of $2,901.03. Randall and Ann did much of the
work themselves. The most pressing need at this time seems to be a new roof
for the sanctuary. Several estimates have been obtained, and the average
estimate is approximately $14,000. It was decided that the church would try
to raise that amount through pledges and donations before work is actually
begun. The building fund had a reserve of $4,000 toward that goal and an
additional $6,014.40 has been donated.
I never fail to be amazed at the lists of
accomplishments and new goals and visions that arise during the course of a
brief year. May Prospect continue to be a church "Holding forth the
Word of Life." (Philippians 2:16)
|
|
|
|
The Year 1998
The
members and friends of Prospect UMC have accomplished much in the way of
ministry and physical improvements since the last Charge Conference.
Prospect has continued its course to "hold forth the Word of
Life."
Sunday
School classes, along with worship services each Sunday morning, have
continued weekly. The children have enjoyed a special time during the
worship hour with the pastor. Brother John’s treasure box has had a wide
appeal, sometimes reaching into the adult congregation. The Wednesday
evening programs for adults, teens, and children have prospered. The Men’s
Fellowship Breakfasts and the Ladies Prayer Breakfasts meet each second
Sunday morning. Taking time out for the summer, the ladies meet monthly for
lunch and have featured the following speakers: Helen Sorrow, Rosemary
Pruett, Debbie Martin, Ellen Boyd, Carole Wilson, Rachel Cunard, Carol
Kurz, Bert Cobb, and Bill Kelly. A ladies’ exercise class began in
September. Throughout the year, there have been several wedding
shower/luncheons to honor those couples who have gotten married: David and
Susie Greene, Jamie and Rachel Pitts, Terry and Misty Lamb, Jayson and Dawn
Dalton. In lieu of a shower, Howie and Holly Feinsilber were sent gift
certificates from the church. .
Special
services throughout the year have included the annual Pilgrim’s Supper, the
children’s Christmas Program, and a three-day revival last March that
featured John Ozley, Sr. as the guest speaker and his son John Ozley, Jr.
as the music leader. A special "Sonrise" service was conducted at
Billy and Rosemary Pruett’s lake. In August three young people, Kyle Lewis,
Rodney Gentis, and Jesse Gentis, were baptized in a special service at J.R.
and Bert Cobb’s lake. A group of adults attended the annual services at
Indian Springs campground. In November, the church conducted a dedication
service of 40 Christmas boxes which the children had prepared during
Vacation Bible School for Operation Christmas Child. Those boxes are
destined for children in foreign countries to make Christmas a special time
for them. The adult VBS class contributed numerous items and $200 toward
the shipping of the boxes. The Telephone Committee was recognized and
honored during Worship one Sunday morning. There was also a special
acceptance service of a substantial gift of stock from Randy and Debbie
Martin. The sale of the stock provided for many physical improvements that
have taken place.
Besides
the children’s Christmas musical, Christmas ‘97 was celebrated through the
lighting of the Advent candles, "Hanging of the Greens," and a
Christmas party hosted by Jan and David Williams. Members of the church,
including Brother John and Helen Sorrow, spent an afternoon visiting
shut-ins and the residents of the nursing home, delivering fruit baskets,
and singing Christmas carols. The children who also came along made it a
very special time. Another unique occasion was the Christmas dinner hosted
by the church for the foster families of Jasper County. The employees from
the Department of Family and Children’s Services were also invited. Church
members served a wonderful meal, and a Christmas lesson was presented to
the children. Santa Claus paid a surprise visit to the delight of the
children.
The
New Year was ushered in at the Chancey’s home on Jackson Lake followed a
few days later by a "Taking Down the Greens" supper. Later in the
month on "Souper Bowl Sunday," $97.46 was collected for the local
food pantry along with donated canned goods. Other special offerings during
the year included $256 for the Homeless, $315 for the Methodist Children’s
Home, and $258 for Wesley Homes.
The
children’s annual evangelistic Easter Party, which featured a gospel
presentation by chalk talk artist and speaker, Gloria Malcolm, was held two
weeks before Easter. During the spring holidays that followed, several
adults carried the children to Lake Varner in Newton County for a picnic.
Vacation Bible School was given a kick-off in July with a swim party and
cookout at Hunter Pope Country Club. Again, VBS was a family affair with
classes for every age group. The attendance for the week, including the
workers, averaged 75. Larry Bowers from Red Oak UMC returned to teach the
adults. In addition to preparing the Operation Christmas Child boxes, the
children gave $163 to an orphanage in India through Light for Living
ministry. Terry Smith, a missionary with Light for Living, wrote a personal
missionary story that was presented each night by Brother John.
Prospect
has been called a giving church. Besides the special offerings already
mentioned, the church voted at a recent council meeting to send the first
of five special offerings of $420 to help with the renovation of Camp
Glisson. The church helped to sponsor June Dalton and Andrea Fann’s
missionary trip to Romania in December, 1997. Prospect has continued to
support missions beyond the Methodist Church. The Gideons are invited
annually to visit and conduct the worship service where a special offering
is received for their support. Child Evangelism Fellowship; Barbara Hardin
with Wycliff in Papa New Guinea; Beth Wilson with Campus Crusade; Dick and
Faith Weber, OMS World Intercessors; Dean and Gail Davis, OMS missionaries
in Equador; and Bill and Elsie Turpin, OMS missionaries in Hungary are sent
a portion of our tithe quarterly. Barbara Hardin with Wycliff sent a plea
for bed sheets for the jungle people of Papa New Guinea. The church gladly
collected dozens of sheets for that cause but have been unable to find an
economical way to send them.
Many
physical improvements have been obvious ones such as the increased
playground area and the paving of the parking lot. A new metal roof
covering all the facilities is the most recent renovation. The year began
with $11,557 collected toward the new roof. The Martin’s gift made it
possible to complete that goal including covering the fellowship building.
General repairs have been made regularly in both the parsonage and the
church buildings. Those included the remodeling of the bathroom in the
sanctuary, new air-conditioning unit and repairs, new lawn mower for use at
the church and parsonage, and extensive termite treatment for the church
buildings. When a new stove was purchased for the fellowship hall, the old
one was donated to a needy family. A new copying machine was purchased to
replace the one that Harris Sample Book Company had donated several years
ago. The old one was donated to the Salvation Army. A new church sign was
purchased, some electrical work was done, and much work was done frequently
in the cemetery and on the grounds surrounding the church. Many people have
contributed to all the above endeavors.
Ministries
could not continue in a place where there were not laborers of every kind.
There always seem to be those who give of themselves week after week and
their names are not on any officer’s list. J. R. Cobb, assisted by Rodney
and Jesse Gentes, has worked the sound system each Sunday. Bill Kelly, with
over 50 years of service, has stepped back in as regular pianist and organist.
Rosemary Pruett continues to lead the choir. God has given Prospect many
people who are willing to serve Him in various ways. Nineteen hundred
ninety-eight has been another wonderful year in the life of Prospect United
Methodist Church.
SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1
Prospect
UMC Historical Report — 1999
It has been said that “a people
not conscious of their past are adrift without purpose.” As we approach a new millennium, I
believe that is truer than ever.
Therefore, the goal of this report is to preserve all accomplished
in the Lord at Prospect UMC during the past year.
December 1998 was a very busy
month, as usual. The Church Council
was held during the evening of December 9.
The church had recently been involved in sending study Bibles to Fort
Knox, Kentucky, at the request of one member, Pvt. Joseph McLendon. District Superintendent Jim Mitchell
asked that the offering go to some special cause. The story of the study Bibles was
related, and the offering of $300 went toward the expense of the 26 study
Bibles that were eventually sent to Pvt.
McLendon for distribution to his bunk mates and even his platoon
sergeant. The account of the
requests for Bibles was submitted and published in the Advocate. The children’s Christmas play, “A Lamb’s
Tale” was presented just prior to the Church Council. Fruit baskets were delivered to several
shut-ins on December 12. A number of
people enjoyed the annual adult Sunday School breakfast.
Jan and David Williams hosted
the New Year’s Eve party at their home.
The children enjoyed an outing at Kidz City before school began
again. The church was un-decorated
with a “Taking Down the Greens” fellowship supper on January 6. Gene Stone with the Red Cross presented a
program on disaster relief to the church one Wednesday night. Many members were interested, with the
church ultimately agreeing to serve as a disaster relief center if the need
should arise in the community. “The
Ride,” a World Wide Pictures film was shown to a large audience in January.
“Souper” Bowl Sunday wound up the first month’s activities with a total
offering of $108 designated to the Jasper County Care Corps.
“Repeat Performance,” another WWP film was shown in February. The adults in the church were treated to
a special Valentine banquet prepared by Debbie Martin and Liz
Harrison. Later in the month, an
offering for the homeless netted $250, and the Wesley Homes offering was
$223.
The ladies continued their monthly prayer breakfasts, luncheons; and
they made trips to the DeKalb Farmers’ Market and the Vine’s Botanical
Gardens in Loganville. The men held
their monthly fellowship breakfasts, as well. Several couples made the annual trip to
Indian Springs Camp Meeting in late summer.
Early in the year the children
who attended Sunday School and Children’s Church for a certain number of
Sundays were rewarded with a pizza lunch in the fellowship hall and a trip
to see the movie, “The Prince of Egypt.”
Spring began with the children’s Easter party and egg hunt, followed
by a “Sonrise” Service at the Pruett’s lake and breakfast in the fellowship
hall.
May 2 was a very special day in the life of the church. Bill Oberst from Pawley’s Island, SC, was
invited to Prospect to perform his one-man “Jesus of Nazareth Experience
Theater.” The program was presented
at the Pruett’s lake, which provided a natural setting for Bill’s
presentation. Dressed in authentic
costume, Bill answered questions from the audience of around 100 people
using Scripture quotations delivered in such a way that made people feel as
if they were truly experiencing an encounter with Jesus Christ. It was a momentous occasion. A picnic supper was held afterwards with
an opportunity to meet and talk with Bill.
Brother John Sorrow had informed
the church early in the year that he would not be returning due to his poor
health. A farewell fellowship supper
was held on a Wednesday night. On
the previous Sunday, the church had presented him and his wife Helen with
gift certificates to Home Depot for use in their new house.
The Reverend Chuck Nave was
appointed to serve Prospect for the new year beginning June 27. He came to Prospect after serving eight
years at Pleasant Hill UMC in Jackson, Georgia. Pastor Chuck, his wife Misty, and
daughters, Erin and Keely, moved into the parsonage the preceding
week. They were quickly initiated
into the church family since Vacation Bible School was planned for June 27
— July 1. There was a VBS Kick-Off
Swim Party the week before, and Erin served as life guard. With classes for all ages, VBS proved to
be another success. Larry Bowers
from Red Oak UMC, Covington, returned to teach the adult class. Special music guests during the week were
June Dalton, Bonnie Tanner, Deborah Marsh, and Ray and Kay Cason. There were so many people involved with
teaching and leading the children and youth that it would be impossible to
name them all here. The missions
offering once again went to Light for Living Missions. Terry Smith from Madison, who is with
Light for Living, wrote the missionary stories that were used each
night. The children and adults gave
$310 to be sent to an orphanage in India.
Prospect has continued to be
faithful to support its many missionaries, including those supported
through the Conference Askings.
Child Evangelism Fellowship; Barbara Hardin with Wycliff in Papa New
Guinea; Beth Wilson with Campus Crusade; Dick and Faith Weber, OMS World
Intercessors; Dean and Gail Davis, OMS missionaries in Equador; and Bill
and Elsie Turpin, OMS missionaries in Hungary are sent a portion of our
tithe quarterly. Mary Melton with
Youth With A Mission (YWAM) in Arkansas has been added to that list. Mary, a friend of several members of the
church, visited during the year and presented her mission program
describing a recent medical mission to India. The church supported Mary several years
ago when she had served with the same mission. In addition, the church gave $150 support
to Lisa Orgo, a former youth of the church, when she made a South Africa
Missionary Trip to Johannesburg, South Africa in May. It should be noted that Gail Davis
suffered a stroke when she and her family were en route home for a furlough
visit. Due to her tremendous
progress, they will be able to return to Equador in January, only six
months behind schedule. Dean plans a
visit to the church on October 20.
As always, there have been many
physical improvements to the church during the past year. The new playground equipment may be the
most noticeable, but there have been many general repairs including new
columns and some new boards on the front of the church and in other places
where needed. New ceiling tiles in both
buildings have replaced stained or damaged tiles. A new drilled well has been added at the
parsonage serving both the parsonage and the church. A new kitchen range was purchased for the
parsonage, and a storage building has been bought to be placed in the
parsonage yard. Major repairs were
needed on the air conditioning unit in the fellowship hall. Plans have been discussed to paint the
church in the near future and to install lighting at the entrance and on
the playground.
The most recent major project
has been carried out by the cemetery committee. It was noted that there were 26 graves in
the cemetery without markers. The
church agreed to place a small granite marker at each grave. Many family members were contacted; and
without exception, they responded positively by contributing generously to
the cemetery account that was opened at Newton Federal Savings and Loan
Bank in Covington, Georgia. Some
family members paid for larger markers in order to include dates of birth
and death. Other contributors made
it possible for all the markers to be paid for before ordering. The markers have already been
placed. The goal is that
contributions will continue to accumulate in order to eventually establish
a perpetual care fund. A
documentation of the cemetery plots is being assimilated and should be
ready by the end of the year. The
booklet will also include stories about some of the people who are buried
in the cemetery and information that should be helpful in genealogy
research.
All previously written history
beginning with the sesquicentennial history is now included on the church’s
Web Page: www.gbgm-umc.org/prospectga.
I would like to repeat what was expressed in the beginning: “A people not conscious of their own
PAST have no purpose for the PRESENT and therefore no plans for
FUTURE.” May we at Prospect never be
guilty of that. Deuteronomy 32:7
commands us to “remember the days of old and consider the years of many
generations.”
Rose Lewis
Historian
SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1Prospect United Methodist Church,
2000
The year 2000 has been a
difficult year in the life of Prospect United Methodist Church. There have been many changes, some that
have been pleasing to some of the membership and not pleasing to
others. The membership itself has
changed, with some previously very active members leaving and new members
joining the fellowship.
Ministry, under the continued
leadership of Pastor Chuck Nave, has not changed, however. The church has carried on. Activities following last Charge
Conference, October 3, 1999, proceeded into the new year. Dean Davis, our OMS missionary to
Equador, visited the church in late October for a fellowship supper and
slide show reporting on his work among the Saguaro Indians in Quito and
surrounding areas. The church hosted
a World Wide Pictures film, “Power Play,” on October 31. The usual holiday events included the
Thanksgiving Pilgrims’ Supper, Hanging of the Greens and fellowship supper
in early December, the annual Children’s Christmas Play, Christmas
breakfast for the Sunday School, and Christmas caroling and delivering
fruit baskets to shut-ins followed by a trip for pizza as a treat for the
children who participated. The
musical group, Milestones, presented a special worship service December
12. The New Year’s Eve party was
hosted again by David and Jan Williams.
Everyone in attendance participated in placing items and notes in a
time capsule marking the beginning of the millennium.
The New Year began with a
“Taking Down the Greens” chili supper.
A Valentine’s dinner was held February 14 in the fellowship
hall. Pictures for a church
directory were taken in February.
The directory itself is still underway. During spring break, the “Big C” Club,
the Wednesday night children’s group, had a field trip and picnic at the
nearby McBride sheep farm. Easter
was once again celebrated with “Sonrise” at the Pruett’s lake and breakfast
following in the fellowship hall.
Bill Oberst from Pawley’s Island, South Carolina, returned in late
May to present “Mark Twain Tonight.”
The supper and program were well attended. A revival, with Ronnie Brannon preaching
and Mac McKibben leading the worship in music, was held May 7-9.
The summer brought changes with
the hiring of a youth worker, Chad Hargrove. Along with Chad came his special friends,
Caroline Davis, Nate Wagner, Russell Fair, and Nicholas Lynn, to help
enhance the music on Sunday mornings.
They also began a Sunday night praise and worship service. Two highlights of the summer were the
family Vacation Bible School held in July and the End-of-Summer Bash 2000
held in August. VBS was a tremendous
success with good attendance of children and adults. Terry Smith, Light of Life missionary
from Madison, came each night to present a missionary story from India for
the children. Larry Bowers, from Red
Oak UMC, once again taught the adult class.
VBS had its kick-off at a swim party/cookout at Hunter Pope Country
Club and ended with a cookout the last night of VBS along with a brief
program for the parents. The Summer
Bash 2000 event was held outside. A
sound stage was erected and several bands including Still Waters were
invited to perform throughout the evening.
Stunt Warriors for Christ presented a pirate skit with a special
message. Chad gave the gospel
message. Free hot dogs, drinks, snow
cones, and pop corn were served.
Publicity had been extensive and groups from many other churches
came out for the event with an estimate of over 200 in attendance.
Recently, the husband/wife drama
team, Sandi and Mark Remington, returned for the second year to present a
thought provoking skit on forgiveness.
A covered dish dinner followed the Sunday morning service. A successful fund-raising barbecue was
held October 21. The spirit of
working together for the Lord continues at Prospect.
Physical improvements made to
the property this past year have consisted of the donated fence in front of the
cemtery, the painting of the outside of the buildings and the inside of the
fellowship hall, and the installation of additional flood lights on the
playground area.
Prospect UMC has never failed to
be generous in its support of special offerings and missionaries who are
closely connected to people in the church.
Special offerings included the United Methodist Children’s Home;
collection of coats, sweaters, etc. for the Task Force for the Homeless;
collection of old Bibles for prisoners sponsored by Berean Christian
Bookstores; the Souper Bowl offering for the local Jasper Country Care
Corps; Operations Christmas Child boxes for Samaritan’s Purse; and the
annual Gideons’ offering. The missionaries
that Prospect UMC continues to support are Terry Smith, Light for Living;
Mary Melton, SafeHouse Outreach missions in Atlanta; Jasper County Care
Corps; Beth Wilson, Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill and Elise Turpin, OMS
missionaries in Hungary; Dean and Gail Davis, OMS; Faith and Dick Weber,
OMS World Intercessors; Barbara Hardin, Wycliffe Bible Translators in
Papua, New Guinea; and Child Evangelism Fellowship.
There have been times of sadness
and times of joy this past year.
Several deaths and tragedies have touched the lives of members
including the death of our own member, Mrs.
Mary Faulkner. Also, several
members have had serious surgeries.
In contrast, there also have been several weddings to celebrate in
the year 2000.
Plans are being made for a live
nativity to be presented in December in lieu of a children’s play. All the community will be invited to
attend. Prospect United Methodist Church looks forward to carrying on the
work of Christ in 2001.
Rose Lewis, Historian
Prospect Untied
Methodist Church 2001
The
year 2001 was an eventful year at Prospect United Methodist Church. It was discouraging in many ways with
attendance still down, averaging 39 each Sunday for the past 53 weeks. However, when one looks at the overview
of opportunities for ministry and accomplishments during the past year,
there is a real sense of achievement and furtherance of God’s kingdom.
Special
programs that have enhanced worship and fellowship were held periodically
throughout the year. They included
the Masters Touch, a native American gospel singing group from Oklahoma;
David Zauber, from Jewish Believers in Christ, who presented a program
called Christ in the Passover; Dan Smith, a soloist from Kansas City,
Missouri; Bill Oberst, who surprised his audience with his portrayal of
Lewis Grizzard; and the Victors, a gospel group from North Georgia.
Opportunities
for ministry and outreach in the community were possible in a number of
effective ways. For the first time,
the church held a live nativity. It
proved to be one of the most special events ever held at the church in spite
of the inclement weather that night in early December. Some church members provided a petting
zoo, authentic costumes were rented through contributions of other members,
a stable was built with donated materials by several of the men and special
music from several surrounding churches was presented. Free hot dogs, hot cocoa, cider, and
other refreshments were offered under the pavilion. The highlight of the evening perhaps
occurred after the program when everyone gathered inside the fellowship
hall and listened to our black friends from Mansfield sing several
songs. Everyone agreed that it
seemed to be a foretaste of what heaven will be like.
To
further promote community spirit and Christmas cheer, several members
including children, delivered fruit baskets and sang carols for residents
of the local nursing home and shut-ins who have connections to the
church. The evening ended with a
trip to the local Mexican restaurant.
Another
successful Vacation Bible School closed out the summer in late July. Prior to VBS, Jan and David Williams
hosted a kick-off swim party and cook out.
The theme for the children was “Surfin’ God’s Word” and attendance
was surprisingly comparable to previous years. Larry Bowers taught the adult class again
and special music was arranged each night for the teens and adults.
An
event involving community outreach was the church’s participation in the
Jasper County Relay for Life, a nation- wide fundraiser for cancer
research. Prospect set up a booth
and sold snacks and soft drinks throughout the all-night event, with at
least a dozen people staying until closing ceremonies early the next
morning. The church was able to
donate $2000 as a result of contributions and sales. According to a recent news article,
Jasper County was awarded the #3 Relay in the nation, raising $97,590 and
averaging $9.01 for every person living in the county. It was exciting to be a part of that
community event.
Prospect
also promoted the recent Billy Graham Celebration featuring Ralph Bell in a
crusade at the Olympic Horse Park in Conyers. Several members attended the four-day
event.
Opportunities
for sharing a meal and fellowship are always special ways of drawing the
church family together. This past
year was no different. In 2001,
members got together for the annual pilgrim’s supper prior to Thanksgiving;
the Sunday School Christmas breakfast hosted by Rose and Robert Lewis; the
New Year Eve’s celebration hosted by Jan and David Williams; several prayer
breakfasts; a special valentine’s dinner held at Lisa Harper’s coffee shop
in Monticello, with former Falcon player Greg Brezina as guest speaker; a
fish fry hosted by Billy and Rosemary Pruett; “Sonrise” service at the
Pruett’s lake with breakfast following in the fellowship hall; two Billy
Graham films; and birthday luncheons for Ruth Kitchens and Cornelia Lewis,
who both celebrated their 95th birthdays this summer. Several ladies from the church
participated in home Bible studies, many members were involved in periodic
visitation programs, and the Wednesday night programs for children, youth,
and adults have continued in spite of low attendance.
Maintaining
the physical plant is always a part of the work of the church. The interesting aspect of this year’s
endeavors is that God provided the resources before the need arose. Attached is a copy of the letter dated
December 18, 2000 and addressed to Ruth Kitchens and Cornelia Lewis from L.
O. Benton III. Its essence is that
Prospect was chosen as one of eight local churches to receive $31,250 from
a foundation. It was noted that the
outside walls of the church, which was built around 1875, were leaning
outwardly most than they had previously.
An inspection was made of the foundation of the church and extensive
termite damage was discovered.
Initial repairs were made and then the area under the church nearest
to the cemetery and lowest to the ground was inspected. The damage was much worse than
expected. Termites had destroyed part
of the original flooring; an additional floor had been added in the
1960’s. The only recourse was to
remove the floor from inside the church.
Worship services have been held in the fellowship hall since the
last Sunday in July. In the process
of removing carpet and pews, it seemed to be the sensible time to make
other improvements with the hopes of reducing the expense of heating and
cooling the church. Last winter the
gas bills were astronomical. An
additional wall and insulation were installed; sheetrock had been added to
the plastered walls in the 1960’s without insulation. Two windows, an outside door, and two
interior doors were closed off. The
ceiling was raised to the original rafters; a suspended ceiling was
installed in the 1960’s. Lighting
was also improved and enhanced. The
church will have a whole new look including new carpet and reupholstered
pews. As of this writing, because of
tremendous donations of labor by Edwin Allen, Hubert Cunard, and David
Williams, the expenses will be covered by the grant and building fund. A detailed report of improvements and
expenses are included in the trustee’s report. Two barbecues have been held since the
last Charge Conference. Both were
successful fund raisers. In addition
to the renovations on the church, the parsonage was painted in the spring
and the wood flooring in the kitchen was repaired.
Prospect
has continued to support a number of missionaries. They include: Mary Melton, Safe House Outreach missions
in Atlanta; Jasper County Corps; Beth Wilson, Campus Crusade for Christ;
Bill and Elise Turpin, OMS missionaries in Hungary; Dean and Gail Davis,
OMS; Faith and Dick Weber, OMS World Intercessors; Barbara Hardin, Wycliffe
Bible Translators in Papua, New Guinea; and Child Evangelism Fellowship. Special offerings were collected for
Souper Bowl Sunday, VBS offering for Terry Smith, Light for Living; and
Children’s Home Work Day Offering.
Camp Glisson receives a
portion of our pledge each year.
Last December forty shoeboxes were donated to Operation Christmas
Child and plans are being made to donate at least that many again this
year. A gift of $1000 earmarked for
benevolence was presented to the church last December and several
recipients were chosen during the course of the year.
All
in all, 2001 has been a full and productive year with the promise of a
great future in the ministry of the Lord.
“Holding forth the Word of life” continues to be Prospect’s mission
statement.
Rose
Lewis, Historian
PROSPECT
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 2002
The
year 2002 was another eventful year at Prospect United Methodist
Church. However, attendance was
still down, with an average of 36 each Sunday for 44 weeks. There were many opportunities for
ministry and celebrations of accomplishments and there continues to exist a
real sense of achievement and furtherance of God’s kingdom.
Opportunities
for ministry and participation in community events were effective. Prospect was well represented at a
community Thanksgiving service held at nearby Trinity Baptist Church. Over 300 people were in attendance
representing a total of thirteen churches. Prospect held its annual
Pilgrims’ Supper the Tuesday evening before Thanksgiving. For the second
year, Prospect hosted a live nativity service that was a wonderful outreach
to the community. A stable was built with donated materials by several of
the men. Some church members
provided a petting zoo that was especially popular with the children. Children and adults portrayed the
characters in the nativity scene.
The choir from Arms of Faith Tabernacle in Mansfield presented
special music, along with Roger Harrison, the grandson of Elizabeth
Harrison. Hot cocoa, cider, and
other refreshments were offered under the pavilion. Approximately one hundred people stopped
by for some part of the program.
The
recently renovated sanctuary was decorated for Christmas in early December
at the annual Hanging of the Greens supper. To further promote community
spirit and Christmas cheer, several members including children, delivered
fruit baskets and sang carols for residents of the local nursing home and
shut-ins who have connections to the church. The evening ended with a trip to the
local Mexican restaurant. The season of Advent was observed each Sunday
before Christmas. A Christmas breakfast for the membership was hosted by
church members just a couple of days before Christmas. The year ended with
a New Year’s Eve party at the home of David and Jan Williams.
An
event that could easily rival any previous special occasion was the
dedication of the renovated sanctuary on January 27. Letters of invitations were mailed to all
the members and many friends and former pastors. The response was overwhelming. Nearly 150 people attended the special
worship service that included music by the Stillwater Band, Don Troutman,
and Roger Harrison. Flo Hutchings, a
former pastor’s wife, conducted a dedication ceremony. A covered dish dinner was enjoyed afterwards.
The renovations are spectacular with new inside walls, raised ceiling, new
lighting, carpet, reupholstered pews, and other obvious enhancements. The
improvements were made possible through a foundation gift of $31,250 in
honor and memory of L. O. Benton of Monticello, Georgia. Much of the labor was donated and what
was estimated to be an $80,000 renovation was entirely paid for at the time
of the completion. The Griffin district
also donated $2500 in April 2002. Surprisingly, another letter from Farmers
and Merchants Bank arrived in early December stating that a second gift of
$31,250 was being awarded the church.
That money has been set aside for an addition to the fellowship
hall.
Opportunities
for sharing a meal and fellowship are always special ways of drawing the
church family together. On
Valentine’s Day, several couples attended a dinner theater hosted by the
drama department of Jasper County High School. The church hosted the Billy
Graham movie, The Climb, and served hot dogs and popcorn in
March. The “Sonrise” service was
held at the church due to inclement weather and a wonderful breakfast was
served in the fellowship hall afterwards. The men have resumed hosting a
breakfast on the third Sunday morning of each month and have invited a guest
each time to present a devotional.
Newlyweds, Jody and Allison Claborn, were treated to a
luncheon/shower this fall. Covenant
Players, an international drama ministry, performed recently on Wednesday
night. They presented three mini
dramas with an evangelistic theme.
In
April, the church hired music and youth leader, Brian Brock. Brian
introduced praise and worship music to the service each Sunday and has
worked to build up the youth group.
They have had several outings including a trip to Six Flags. A good
portion of his support has come from pledges of church members.
Vacation
Bible School, an annual highlight of the church year, was held in
mid-July. Prior to VBS, Jan and
David Williams hosted a well-attended kick-off swim party and cook
out. The theme for VBS was “A
Cyberspace Adventure” and attendance was around 80 each night. Larry Bowers from Red Oak Methodist
Church was the guest teacher of the adult class for the fifth year. Terry
Smith, missionary with Light for Living Missions, presented a missions emphasis
for the children. Special guests presented music each night for the teens
and adults.
Prospect
has continued to support a number of missionaries including a new one. Lisa
Orgo, a former member of the Prospect youth group, has been called to serve
with Campus Outreach, a college campus ministry with an emphasis on
evangelism. The church agreed to
offer her the support that previously had gone to Mary Melton, who resigned
from Safe House Outreach in Atlanta, Beth Wilson with Campus Crusade for
Christ, and Bill and Elise Turpin, OMS missionaries in Hungary. The church continues to support the
Jasper County Corps; Dean and Gail Davis, OMS; Faith and Dick Weber, OMS
World Intercessors; Barbara Hardin, Wycliffe Bible Translators in Papua,
New Guinea; and Child Evangelism Fellowship. Special offerings were collected for
Souper Bowl Sunday, the Gideons, VBS offering for Terry Smith, Light for
Living; and Children’s Home Work Day Offering. Sudheer Muhanty of Christian Life Center
presented a special message during a worship service. Also Camp Glisson
receives a portion of our pledge each year.
Last December forty shoeboxes were donated to Operation Christmas
Child. In addition, a benevolence
fund has been established to help meet special needs throughout the year.
The
book, Prospect United Methodist Church Cemetery 1882-2002, was
completed and is about to go into its third printing. Sales of the first two hundred books have
been phenomenal. The book includes documentation of all the graves and a
collection of stories about many of the people who are buried in the church
cemetery. The information has been updated with each printing. Sadly, two loved ones of the church have
been buried since the first printing.
Donna Faulkner, the niece of Bill and Merry Faulkner, was a victim
of homicide in May. Loice Allen, a member of the church for nearly 60
years, was killed recently in front of his home on Hwy 11 hit in a
tractor/truck accident.
The
year 2002 has been full and productive with the promise of a great future
in the ministry of the Lord.
“Holding forth the Word of life,” continues to be Prospect’s mission
statement.
Historian
Rose
Lewis
PROSPECT UMC HISTORICAL REPORT
2006
The apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 3:13, 14 “…forgetting
what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward
the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” The members of Prospect UMC perhaps could
adopt those words as a theme for the next year. The year 2006 has been a year of
change. Pastor Chuck Nave left in
June after serving the church for six years. The Reverend Dr. Layne Jenkins
was appointed as the new pastor after enjoying a year of retirement from
active ministry. Together, as a
church, we are about the Lord’s business in “holding forth the Word of
Life.”
Since the last charge conference, ministry has been the
primary focus. The men have continued their monthly breakfasts with a
special speaker, and the women began meeting again each month for a prayer
breakfast with a special speaker. Monthly visitation was also resumed. A
Valentine banquet for the adults was a special event. In March the children
and youth conducted a Tour of Italy fundraiser for the Methodist Children’s
Home. Mary Ann Wyatt, an employee at the Methodist Children’s Home, gave a
presentation of the purpose and programs at the Home. Easter was celebrated
with the children and a sunrise service and breakfast were held Easter
morning. The highlight for the
summer was the church-wide Vacation
Bible School.
The special winter holiday events that were held last year will be repeated
this year with even more expectation of community outreach and
involvement. They include a
Thanksgiving covered dish dinner after worship service, participation in
Operation Christmas Child, hanging of the greens, caroling and delivering
fruit baskets to shut-ins. The
highlight of the Christmas season is the Live Nativity that was begun a few
years ago. The community always responds
well in coming to see the live animals and the ancient story acted out by
the church youth and children.
The trustees have as their goal for the next year to
install storm windows on the church, finish supplying the kitchen, and
purchasing tables and chairs for the fellowship hall. Another goal that has
almost been met is to finish paying the outstanding loan for the paint job
in 2005. Fire and smoke alarm
protection were added to the burglar alarm system during the past year. The
cemetery fund has increased tremendously over the past year with almost
weekly contributions. It has grown
from $2018 in October, 2005 to $7249.
The annual Charge Conference always presents an
opportunity to look at past accomplishments and failures. It also gives us as a church an
opportunity to look ahead and press on toward what God has planned for us
as His people performing His ministry.
Rose
Lewis, Historian
|
|
|
|