Thursday, February 23, 2023

 

Board of Trustees

New Ministry Initiatives

• The Board of Trustees continue to actively and effectively manage church property, equipment and investments in capital improvements.  Major projects totaling $1 million are being evaluated for the upcoming year that include replacements for 3 sections of the roof and modernization of the 2 elevators.

Recently Completed Events/Stats

• Adoption of a Social Media Crisis Counsel Policy was approved by the Board of Trustees at the meeting held Sunday, January 22, 2023 and will be shared with the Church Council in February for their approval.

General Ministry Progress Update

• The Capital Reserve Study preliminary report has been provided for review and changes.  The revision process remains underway with Miller Dodson with the goal to to find a "strategic funding solution" for funding the reserves for capital projects that arise.​

 

Caring Ministry

• Chip Hall continues to lead our USO ministry so faithfully.  We have had teams go to the airport to encourage our troops regularly. 

• Sandra Shaner leads our prison ministry well.  We continue have a team go to the Atlanta Transitional Center the second and fourth Wednesday afternoons of each month.  We have a Sunday night worship service every other month – our next one will be March 26.  The Christmas worship service went well.  We fed those present BBQ and provided a Christmas bag of personal items and treats for all 275 inmates.

• GriefShare continues to offer healing for those who have lost loved ones.  Bill Creech and Susan Nuttall are currently leading a group of mostly Mount Pisgah people.  We will conclude this season the end of April.  We’ll begin another group in the Fall.

• Peace After Divorce has two participants – neither one of them from Mount Pisgah.  Jen Shirey is doing an excellent job of relating to and facilitating this group.   

• Cradled in Prayer will be offered on Wednesday evenings right after Easter giving people a way to continue a Lent type prayer experience.  Oswin Roberts wrote the material being used.  It is wonderful material looking at how people in scripture offered prayer and how God worked with those prayers.  And how He still does this today with our prayers.

• Stephen Ministry continues to offer hope to many hurting souls.  80% of our Stephen Ministers have care receivers. 

• We have had a high volume of funerals since the beginning of the year.  Martha Ministry has offered so much help to these families by making sure the details of the day are met.

• Current confirmation class has been 100% covered with prayer partners.

 

Children’s Ministry

• The Children’s Ministry staff had a great time supporting Mount Pisgah School and participating in their trunk or treat night, strengthening relationships and meeting new families.

• Ashlyn has been busy with the fifth graders; they have had several High Five discipleship and service events since the fall, with several more planned for spring. High Five introduces fifth graders to the discipline of serving, allows them to go deeper in their faith with theology and doctrinal concepts introduced just for their age and strengthens relationships among them before they move up to Student Life, which leads to greater participation in middle and high school.

• Christmas and Superbowl Family Editions in Sunday Morning Live were well attended. Families love the opportunity to worship with their kids and see how and what they learn in children’s ministry each week.

• Many of our fourth and fifth graders are participating in the new Junior Beta Club elementary schools in North Fulton have created this year, and we are hosting work days for them to earn service hours by cleaning and doing work projects at the church.  

• Attendance on Sundays and Wednesdays has increased since we kicked off in August. Families are inviting neighbors and friends, and more parents are participating in Bible studies and classes.

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DiscipleLife

• We were pleased to announce Amy Van Haveren as the Director of DiscipleLife. She is conducting interviews to fill the DiscipleLife Coordinator position no later than April 1st.

• The DiscipleLife Council is finalizing the rebuilding process which should be complete by the end of March. Chis Henderson and Amy have been very intentional about inviting council members who are diverse and representative of the ministries here at MP specific to DL.

• Connect classes are have started again with Connect to God, continuing with Connect with your Faith before breaking for Summer. Connect to the Bible will begin in the Fall, followed by Connect to the Mission to finish out the year. Classes are offered on Sundays at 9:30 and 11:00 and on Monday at 1:00.  New members are invited to join the series at anytime.

 

Finance Committee

New Ministry Updates

• We will celebrate our RISE Initiative and ministry accomplishments on Sunday, April 16, 2023 with an introduction to our "Vision Forward" for Mount Pisgah.  Please join us in worship that Sunday for a fun celebration.

Recently Completed Events and Stats

• Fiscal year-end audit report for period ending June 30, 2022 was approved by the Finance Committee at the last meeting held Monday, February 13, 2023.  No changes or adjustments were required by the Audit Committee.

General Ministry Progress Update

• We are 24 months into our two-year RISE journey and celebrate the faithful generosity of our congregation. Gifts received to date total $11.3 million or 95% of our $12 million projection.  Every dollar given helps us advance our mission to Make Disciples of Jesus Christ.

• We are currently beta testing many new features for our Church management software system, TouchPoint.  We look forward to rolling out these enhancements over the next 6 months.​

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Hospitality

• Planned and managed the third annual Christmas Tree Lighting in December.  The December 2nd event had more than 1000 attendees from the community and included a lighted tunnel entrance, scavenger hunt, live nativity, food trucks, choir members walking around caroling, ministry tents, tree lighting, train for kids, photo booth and carnival games.

• Assisted in coordinating Mount Pisgah in Spanish Lunch de Traje and the TOGETHER events.

• Decorated the inside and outside of the church for Christmas services and events.  Updated lighting on the outside of the church this year to include lighting of the perimeter fences and perimeter of the church building, including handrails.

• Continue to engage with mission partners in the community for our monthly Outreach of the Month.  In October, collected winter coats for NFCC; in November/December, organized and bought Christmas gifts of clothing and toys/books/games for 150 children in our Mount Pisgah in Spanish congregation; and in January/February, collected games for families in children who will be attending our Pisgah Fosters Day Out on February 25th.

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Marketing/Communications Update

• Rebecca Williams will be joining the Mount Pisgah family on March 1st as the new Director of Marketing and Communications

• Thanks to Guardian and Kristina Felton, our staff liaison with the Guardian, and Caroline McLendon for keeping our marketing and communication efforts running smoothly as we have searched for a new Director of Marketing and Communication

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Membership & Baptisms

• Mount Pisgah is growing once again, in members and in discipleship. In 2022, we celebrated 29 Holy Baptisms and welcomed 154 members with 126 of those by Profession of Faith.

 

Men’s Ministry

• A group of Mount Pisgah Men and friends meeting every Thursday morning at Uptown Café for fellowship. This group of being 30 and 50 share food, fellowship, and a message. All men are welcome to join. On Saturday, February 25th, a group of men and youth are planning on attending an Atlanta United “Football” game together.  

• Bridging the Gap Men’s Fellowship Group: Our racial unity ministry held one of our semi-annual BBQ events to invite new people to step into the ministry. Small group discussions start on March 6th.  Over 30 BTG Men went into downtown Atlanta on November and served over 40 meals to the homeless and those in need. This is an event we will hold twice a year and the next Feed the Hungry event will be on May 13th.

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Mission/Community Outreach

• TOGETHER Events – Our next TOGETHER Worship and Service event will be April 23rd in Newtown Park.

• Sunday Supper – We continue to serve between 125-130 meals and 40 families every month, on the 1st Sunday.  Each family and person receiving a meal is prayed over.  Several of the families we serve have begun coming to Mount Pisgah in Spanish worship services. Praise God for those serving and those being served!

• Ukraine Support – We continue to receive funds for Ukraine Support and have disbursed $160,9000 dollars directly to support Ukrainian refugees inside of Ukraine, who are receiving this support through UMC Pastors in Ukraine, Romania, and Hungary. We continue to disburse every penny given for this support.

• Global Missions – Two international trips are being planned. Dominican Republic (June 19-27) with our global missions partner Water@Work and Kenya (August 17-28) with our global missions partner Mully Children’s Family. Information is on the Mount Pisgah web-site and informational meeting on being held on February 19th and 26th.

• Habitat for Humanity – almost all of the slots have been filled for our current build, which marks the 30 home Mount Pisgah has worked on.

 

Mount Pisgah in Spanish

New Ministry Initiatives

• We begin the three levels of discipleship. In the first level we have more than 15 people and in the second 11 people. The third level is not taking place this quarter

• We are opening a new “Hogar de Luz” in the house of María Marcela and José García. We expect an attendance of 7 people

• On the third Wednesday of each month we have a joint service with youth and adult groups, where a young man preaches.

• We are holding Friday of Glory every 4 months with Hispanic ministries pastors from the North Georgia Methodist Conference. With an attendance of 80 people

• We created the welcome committee where we take people who visit us for the first time in the Sunday service and we give them a bag that has a Bible and information about the church. Their name and phone number are taken. Pastor Jorge is in charge of calling them the same Sunday and we are creating the follow-up program for the new ones so that they connect with our Church

Recent church events 

• The ministry of evangelization is distributing once a month, tracts and advertising of the Church in Hispanic supermarkets.

• The Pizza con Jesús Youth group has assistance: pre-juvenile group (from 6 to 11 years old) of 8 children; the Youth group (from 12 to 18 years old) has an attendance of 9 young people and the group of Young Adults from 18 to 30 years old, with assistance of 13 young people. The three groups meet every Wednesday from 7:30 to 8:30 pm.

• The young people (from 12 to 21 years old) in the group: Rosa de Saron meet monthly with an attendance of 16 young people

• The 8 Banco del Amor projects are growing and paying their share on time.

• We are happy to be able to share with all our Mount Pisgah Church, Lunches de traje, that take place on the last Sunday of each month.

• Friday prayer services are attended by over 30 people in person and streamed on Facebook (35 people online)

• The Café con Jesús program, which takes place every two weeks, has an attendance of 10 young people and is led by Melvin Garfias

• On Wednesdays we have the service with an attendance of 30 people

• The women meet every two months with an attendance of more than 25 women

• The men's ministry meets every month with an attendance of 20 men

• Friday of Glory (Service on the last Friday of each month) has an attendance of 70 people

• We continue the singing classes for the worship group with an attendance of 5 people

• Average attendance at Sunday services in person is 180 people and online 110 people

• We continue to support the Fresh Expressions program where a dinner is shared at the Villa de Marisol complex (formerly Holcomb Bridge). The program is Sunday Dinner.

• We are accompanying in advice and advice 3 marriages and 5 personal cases

• Luz Marina coordinates classes on Sundays for children from 9 to 13 years old. Attendance is 20 children per Sunday.

• We have a prayer group, by Zoom at 10:00 pm, Monday through Thursday of each week. With an attendance of 20 people each day

• We continue with the One invites One campaign. It means praying for a family member or friend and modeling the testimony of what Christ is doing in each one of us and inviting them to Church so that they learn to have a relationship with God.

• We have the first level of Discipleship on Mondays by Zoom with an attendance of 15 people and every Tuesday at 7:30 pm by Zoom the level 2 of discipleship, with an attendance of 11 people. The third level will not be carried out this first quarter of 2023

• On December 24, we delivered Christmas gifts to more than 150 children. Thanks to the love of our Anglo brothers we were able to bless the children of our community

• In December we had Christmas dinner for couples, with the assistance of 50 people.

• We had a Christmas dinner for the volunteers and leaders of our Church, with an attendance of 40 people.

• On February 18 we held the "love and friendship" dinner with the couples. We were 30 couples (60 people and 15 children)

• We held the soccer world cup, where we had 4 Men's teams; 4 women's teams and two children's teams. During 4 Sundays we had fun and we had an attendance of 70 people

• We hold the festival of worship groups. There were 7 churches that brought their worship group and we had an attendance of 150 people

Updates on the progress of the general ministry in the future:

• We continue with our mission and vision of making disciples here, there and everywhere, passionate and in love with Jesus Christ. To be a Church of life where Jesus heals, restores people, families and we expand the Kingdom of God

• We continue to motivate, encourage and train people to follow the model of Jesus (Discipleship). For people to connect with God through prayer, fasting and have a new lifestyle that reflects the life of Christ.

• We continue to focus on giving spiritual nourishment to the members of Mount Pisgah in Spanish, so that they mature and develop a good and solid relationship with God.

• We continue to provide counseling and spiritual guidance to couples, adults, married couples, and the youngest members of our Church.

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Music Ministry

Recently Completed Ministry Events

• Christmas Angels (Invite people to choir to sing Christmas only)

• Choir Chili Cook-Off with ‘Golden Ladle’ award, October 19th

• Adult choir sings at the Festival of Trees, GWCC, Nov. 20th

• Organ Sunday - Nov. 27th

• Mt Pisgah Tree Lighting – December 2

• Children sing at Johns Creek Tree Lighting/Parade – Dec. 3

• Christmas @ Pisgah – Churchwide Christmas program featuring musicians from 9:30, 11:00, MPIS, AIPF, and MPCS (December 11th, 4:00)

​New Ministry Initiatives

• Variety of instrumental ensembles during 9:30 service

• “Spring Singers” to sing during Holy Week (April 2-7)

• Palm Sunday processional in both services (April 2)

• Good Friday Tenebrae service (April 5)

• Three Easter services (April 7)

• Children’s choir musical “Go, Go, Jonah” (April 26 and 30)

• Choir NYC Trip to sing at Carnegie Hall (June ’23)

 

Parent Ministry

• The Parent Confirmation class is averaging 35 parents each Sunday morning for those with kids currently in the student classes. There has been a good/surprising turnout of parents of students from the two high school classes.

• Prayers are requested for the Student Celebration on Friday 3/3 during which students will make decisions on readiness to follow Christ as an “adult member of the church” and parents and prayer partners will be gathering for a special time of prayer and communion on their student’s behalf. Parents will also have an opportunity with Mike Brooome to learn more about their faith and Mount Pisgah so they can join with their students on Confirmation Sunday 3/26.

• A group of 10-15 parents meet Wednesday night during family programming and are currently doing a study on Technology, which blends practical tools with Biblical principles to help parents navigate and lead these tricky waters.

• The Moms Fellowship Bible Group continues to meet weekly during the school year for Bible study and support with periodic dinners so working moms can join in as well.  

• Our small group for parents of children with a range of mental health diagnosis is in its third full year and continues to meet weekly via zoom.

• Parents of kids who went on the recent Student Life Winter Weekend retreat received daily update texts with the schedule, scriptural content and how to be praying for their student.

 

Pisgah Fosters

• The Pisgah Fosters ministry teamed up with Children’s Ministry High Five kids and their parents to do a much appreciated winter yard cleanup for one of our long-serving foster families, Kevin and Sonya Morgan in January.

• This Saturday 2/25, 100+ volunteers will spend the day loving on an expected 35-40 children from 18 foster families so their parents can get some much-needed time for themselves.  The theme for the day is “All Fun and Games” and families will be receiving an Easter devotion, family game and cooler bags with frozen meals as they leave.to themselves.

• With the help of many volunteers, we have added to the frozen meals for the Loaves and Fishes ministry over the past two months.  These meals will be given to our families as they pick their kids up this Saturday and in the weeks ahead as needed.

• In March we will be coordinating the donation and collection of Easter laundry baskets for 20 foster teens from Wellroot Family Services (formerly the United Methodist Children’s Home) who are moving into their first apartments.  These will be filled with donated cleaning supplies, devotionals, chocolate bunnies and  canvases painted by and fleece blankets made by our Student Life ministry.

• We are also currently have two care-teams supporting two amazing families, both of whom currently have children in their care.  One family adopted the older of two brothers last year and are close to completing the adoption process for the second brother.  The older brother just completed his first semester of college and became a U.S. citizen two weeks ago!   Prayers are appreciated for willing and available additional team members as this is the heart of this ministry.   

 

Student Life Ministry

Regular Programs:

• Small Groups – 14 small groups meeting each week on Sunday afternoons with an average of 100 attendees each week (includes adult leaders)

• The House (Wednesday nights) – Averaging 110 students each week, with 2-5 new visitors weekly

• Breakfast Club- Averaging roughly 40 students every other week in the morning for breakfast before school

Retreats:

• This past weekend Student Life took more than 130 middle school students, high school students, and adult leaders to Camp Lee in Anniston, Alabama. We are fondly changing the name of this past retreat from "Winter Weekend' to "Worship Weekend" as that is a much more accurate representation of what it truly was.
  Many of our students answered a call to ministry in their lives, and we were able to be a part of a largely student-initiated swell of passion for worship and the gospel!  Students and leaders had the opportunity to serve the local Anniston and Birmingham community, as well as at Camp Lee itself. Through our "First Retreat Free" offer (courtesy of the FL Initiative Fund) we were able to bring nearly 20 first time students, and nearly half of the retreat attenders were able to receive financial relief in varying amounts based on need!

Mission Trips:

• High School – This year we are going to Guatemala with Praying Pelican Missions.  Our team of 52 (46 students, 6 leaders) will be serving in the local community through VBS/children’s ministries, light construction, and outreach.  Dates are May 27 – June 2, 2023.  (This trip filled up 4 days after registration opened.)

• Middle School – We are heading to Jackson, MS this year.  Registration has not closed yet, but we have 38 team members currently, 31 students and 7 adults.  We have room for 8 more students and are confident that more will sign up following this weekend's retreat

Confirmation: 

• Confirmation is in full swing with a total of 45 students involved. 

• This year hosts the highest number of High School students we have ever had walking through the Confirmation classes (16). This is especially exciting for us as we work to plant seeds of spiritual leadership among our older students! 

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Women’s Ministry

• Mistletoe was a beautiful event! Christen Clarke did a wonderful job delivering the message and we enjoyed ushering in the Christmas season with a diverse group of ladies representing our congregation as well as MPIS and APF. Our Be Our Guest campaign was a great success and we plan to offer free tickets again to first time attenders next year.

• Sarah Cisco chaired our second Fondue Night. We had a relaxing evening of fellowship and we also made simple gifts for the women at Drake House as encouragement.

• Sisters In Christ was a huge blessing this past Saturday! 500 women from a variety of denominations from several churches throughout the city were in attendance.  Delma, who is the head of the Sisters in Christ Ministry, has already said she would like to have MP host again next year!! Wonderful news for us here at MP!

• Wednesday Lunch Bunch at Marlow’s is going strong. Lunch and fellowship are enjoyed by approximately a dozen women monthly.