South Carolina United Methodist Advocate

10/13/2026

10/13/2026

SC United Methodist Disaster Response is launching online Early Response Team renewals and hosting two more ERT trainings this fall: Oct. 10 at Sand Hill UMC in Ridgeville and Nov. 7 at Dacusville UMC in Easley (register at umcsc.org/ertregistration). The ministry is also seeking district disaster response coordinators and wants to hear from churches with ramp-building ministries.

https://go.advocatesc.org/disaster-update-102026

10/12/2026

Why would anyone sit outside on the porch when it's nearly 100 degrees?

That's what Rhonda Winfield wondered this summer in Walterboro, South Carolina. As outreach chair at New Life United Methodist Church, she learned that many older neighbors find air conditioning too cold and would rather stay on the porch or under a tree.

So she says God gave her a vision: bring the cool to them.

New Life's outreach and nurturing committees filled 13 coolers with ice, water, juice and sports drinks, with no sugary sodas, and delivered them to elderly and disabled neighbors, church members or not. When a cooler ran low, they filled it again.

The two-week ministry did more than beat the heat. It sparked spiritual conversations, including one with a 92-year-old woman who sang an old-time song with Winfield.

The church plans to do it again next summer.

So what simple need in your neighborhood could your church meet this season? Tell us about it in the comments.

The Advocate—your source for South Carolina United Methodist news.

https://go.advocatesc.org/new-life-ice

10/12/2026

Meet St. Mark UMC in Sumter, where the Rev. Darlene Dellinger's congregation is known for hospitality that doesn't just welcome visitors but embraces them, and for outreach to nursing homes, schools, dialysis patients, shelters and more. Get to know this month's featured church in the Advocate's new district series, including St. Mark's dream to pay off its mortgage and build a fellowship hall for even greater ministry! ⛪❤️

https://go.advocatesc.org/5-things-about-stmark-sumter

10/12/2026

🚨 JOB OPPORTUNITY🚨 Could you be the next President/CEO of the South Carolina United Methodist Foundation?

The South Carolina United Methodist Foundation is seeking a mission-minded leader to guide its work in Christian stewardship, planned giving and fund management for churches, ministries and donors across South Carolina.

This is an opportunity to use your leadership, financial and relationship-building skills to make a lasting impact across the United Methodist connection.

They're looking for someone with:
✔️ Nonprofit leadership experience
✔️ Knowledge of Wesleyan history, doctrine and polity
✔️ Financial/accounting and personnel management experience
✔️ Strong communication skills
✔️ A heart for serving churches, ministries and donors

📩 Interested—or know someone who would be a great fit?
Submit a cover letter, résumé and three references to [email protected].

📅 Applications are actively being reviewed now.

Learn more at www.scumf.org or call 803.771.9125.

Please share this opportunity with someone who may be called to this role.

10/11/2026

When Rev. Karen Kirchel became pastor of Whitmire UMC in June, her husband found a set of old chimes lying on the sound room floor and built a keyboard so they could ring out once again.

Dedicated in 1946 in memory of Fannie Mae Henderson Abrams by her husband, longtime state senator Marvin Abrams, the rare chimes are playable again.

https://go.advocatesc.org/whitmire-chimes

10/10/2026

At the three-day LIFT Innovation Launch Pad at Journey UMC, South Carolina church leaders were challenged to start not by asking how to get people into church, but by going out to listen to their neighbors, with one practical goal: meet two to five new people every week.

Led by Dr. George Ashford with Bishop Leonard Fairley and national ministry leaders, the gathering sent participants home with peer cohorts and a reminder that the mission field is right in front of us! 🚀🙏

https://go.advocatesc.org/lift2026

10/10/2026

Last chance! The deadline for the November Advocate is today, Oct. 10. Do you have some news the Advocate can share? Send it in!

Email [email protected]. 🙏

10/09/2026

Where would you get your United Methodist news if the Advocate wasn’t here?

Nearly half of readers who answered that question in a 2025 survey said they didn't know, or that they simply wouldn't get it.

The survey, gathered mostly through listening sessions in every district, found that 89 percent of respondents consider the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate trustworthy. Most read every monthly issue, and more than three-quarters read it in print.
Readers' favorite feature by far? Local church news. They also asked for more stories from small and rural churches, more about congregations growing and rebuilding, more content for children and youth, and more photos.

Advocate Board Chair the Rev. Michael Henderson thanked everyone who shared feedback, saying the way the church shares the good news may change, but the mission remains.

So what story from your church should the Advocate tell next?

Tell us about it in the comments.

The Advocate—your source for South Carolina United Methodist news.

https://go.advocatesc.org/survey2026