A new year brings about new ideas at the Fayetteville United Methodist Church.

For the first time the church has a program development director, Len Gough. Hired last fall to make sense of its many programs and committees and to get everyone on the same page, he has put together six areas of ministry.

These six areas involve 140 members performing various duties under the leadership of the church paid staff. It is a significant change in the organizational/management structure of this congregation, which dates back to 1828.

Entitled “Mission 2000,” the new areas of ministry will include nurture, outreach, programs, witness, resources and leadership. Gough has made, in effect, a job description for each of the areas so that volunteers can know exactly what is to be accomplished and what will be expected of them.

The area of nurture is initially organized in the fields of education, which will cover the children, youth and adult Sunday Schools, along with the visitor's center, new member packets and devotional books.

Also in this category is stewardship, which will undertake to reduce the debt service on the church's new family life and worship center. The new facility will organize the ushers, acolytes, Communion services and special holiday decorations, weddings and the church tape ministry.

Large print Bibles have been ordered and a large print bulletin is under development.

The area of outreach will cover missions and includes helping to build another Habitat for Humanity house this summer and social concerns that involve assisting the Fayette Samaritans, Fayette Youth Protection Homes and the Fayette County Council on Domestic Violence.

In the ministry of programs, the church child development center will continue, many in-house publications will be updated, and small group programs will continue. Last year more than 40 short courses were offered and more than 70 members are involved in the six Disciple Bible studies, three of which are led by lay leaders.

The United Methodist Women group will continue its traditional Lenten luncheons as well as its arts and crafts fair each fall. The ten circles actively support the Fayette Samaritans, Fayette Youth Protections Homes and Joseph Sams School, and give stuffed animals to the Fayette Fire Department.

The witness ministry includes calling on new visitors and/or new members, developing a tape ministry, outreach to nursing homes, cookies to college students, blood pressure checks and cards to the ill.

Both the resources and leadership ministries are under the senior pastor, the Rev. Dr. Sam R. Matthews. He is responsible for the board of trustees, financial reports and the building committee.

The other ministries are under the leadership of Gough and associate pastor the Rev. Robby McMahan.

The church can be reached at 770-461-4313 or visit its web site at www.fayettevillefirst.com.

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