Tired of the mega-church atmosphere

where you may meet 5 percent of the members and probably never get to

know the senior minister?

"Do not be fooled,"

said the Rev. Earl F. Dabney; "small, rural circuit churches are

very much alive."

Dabney looks after three circuit

churches in the county: Merrill Chapel United Methodist Church, New Hope

United Methodist Church and Hartford United Methodist Church. "I

don't get around to the circuit churches on a horse, like John Wesley

did in the 1700s, but a car does just as well," he said.

The doors are all open to newcomers

of all races and nationalities and the congregations guarantee that you

will not leave a stranger.

The churches all have a rich

history, beginning shortly after the War Between The States and, as was

common to all churches at the time, they began under a brush arbor.

In the case of New Hope, the

first congregation began in 1872, just 15 years after slavery was abolished.

Church members built the first permanent building in 1954, using parts

of the older building. It has a cemetery which was expanded when given

additional land from Georgia Power Company. It has a membership of 190

persons.

New Hope is at 618 Inman Road,

in the Inman Community.

The Hartford Church has an

interesting beginning, also dating