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 .