New Church Development
Meet Our New Church Pastors
Gathering Grounds for
Kirkwood United Church of Christ
One year ago, Rev. Susannah Davis took a leap of faith. As a successful and highly respected UMC pastor known for her talent in revitalizing churches, Rev. Davis had enjoyed years of serving in fulfilling, transformational ministries in the Atlanta area. But in 2005, Rev. Davis heard God calling her to a new adventure in church planting. If this were not enough, she then learned of “this crazy, amazing church” called the United Church of Christ. A vision was born.
In June of 2006, Rev. Davis met with Rev. Dr. Timothy Downs, Conference Minister, and Rev. Cameron Trimble, Associate Conference Minister for Church Development, in the Southeast Conference office and told them that she had a dream of starting a church in Kirkwood, GA. She wanted this church to be deeply steeped in the values and identity of the United Church of Christ, a church which she understood to be committed to social justice, equality and radical hospitality. “Kirkwood needs the United Church of Christ, and the United Church of Christ needs the people of Kirkwood,” said Rev. Davis.
The church would start out of a coffee shop she bought located in the heart of old, historic Kirkwood, just outside of the city of Atlanta. The coffee shop provides a natural connection to the community and a place to gather for worship, bible study and community activities. The coffee shop, named Gathering Grounds, would become the hub of the Kirkwood community, and Kirkwood United Church of Christ would be an extension of this gathering. Talk about an exciting vision!
In March of 2007, after completing extensive assessments and receiving the blessing of the SEC Board of Directors, Kirkwood United Church of Christ was born. Susannah had over 50 people in her first worship service, and participation has remained strong since then. This new church community has contributed in building a Habitat house, held an Easter sunrise service and egg hunt in a local park and hosted a booth at the annual Kirkwood community festival. Rev. Davis says, “I know that I have been called to serve, and I know that God expects me to be authentic, to be the person that God has created me to be. I believe that in and through the faithful denomination of the United Church of Christ, God is making a way. That is who God is. God is always making a way for us to draw closer, to share compassion and love with our sisters and brothers.”
Kirkwood United Church of Christ is making a way for many people in Kirkwood to connect to our God of radical welcome. If you would like to learn more about Kirkwood UCC or contact Rev. Susannah Davis, go to http://www.kirkwooducc.com.
Emmanuel Christian Ministries, Tucker, Georgia
Dr. Lewis Kola has been a member of Central Congregational UCC in Atlanta, GA and has worked for many years as a pastoral counselor in the Atlanta area.
Ten years ago, God birthed a vision in Lewis' heart to birth an intentionally multi-cultural church in the Tucker area of Atlanta. Lewis is originally from Ghana and his wife, Dorothea is from Germany. While Lewis continued his work in clinical pastoral education, this desire to plant a church would not go away. So in 2006, Lewis met with Rev. Cameron Trimble at the conference office, completed the assessments and was called by the Conference Board of Directors in June, 2007.
He talks about Emmanuel Christian Ministries in this way: "Imagine a congregation whose membership comes from diverse racial backgrounds. Imagine a congregation that consists of people from different cultural orientations. Imagine a congregation of men and women, boys and girls. Imagine a congregation that seeks authentic relationships based on the love of God. Imagine a congregation where people are nurtured in the Word of God. Imagine a congregation that seeks to be an agent of healing and transformation in individuals, families, and the communities. Imagine a congregation that is welcoming and affirming, open and inclusive. Imagine Emmanuel Christian Ministries…God is Still Speaking."
For more information about Emmanuel Christian Ministries, contact Rev. Dr. Lewis Kola at dlkola@hotmail.com.
Peace Congregational Church, UCC
Clemson, South Carolina
When Susie Brannon Smith called Rev. Cameron Trimble in 2006 about the possibility of starting a new church in Clemson, South Carolina, she knew that God was not going to let this vision go. Having wrestled with the calling to new church development for over one year, Rev. Smith knew that the Southeast Conference was ready to help her live into God's call.
Rev. Smith is a former Presbyterian pastor who have served two churches in the Clemson area before moving to Pennsylvania to serve United Christian Church in Levittown. Feeling a call back to her "home" in the South, she then learned that a group of graduate students and professors at Clemson were feeling a call to start a UCC church in the area. Rev. Smith often quotes Frederick Buechner when he said, "The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet."
So it is with Susie Smith and Peace Congregational Church.After almost one year of going through the conference assessment process and working with this amazing group of people gathered in Clemson, Peace Congregational Church, UCC was born.
To learn more about Peace Congregational Church, UCC, go to their website at www.thepeacechurch.org.
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