February 16: Andover Update

Greetings everyone. The Andover launch team is busy on several fronts that we wanted to share with you.

Remodeling: We are actively compiling a comprehensive plan to remodel the existing building to make it more suitable for a traditional worship service. The basis of this plan is to do it with volunteer labor! The building team has asked us to provide cost, staging, and final remodeling details by their next meeting which should take place at the end of February or early March. We should know a lot more by then. Please stay tuned for more details.

People: To begin the new service, we are looking for at least 100 persons who would be willing to commit to making Andover their worship home for at least 1 year or longer. These persons would serve as the foundation of the new service and be instrumental in regularly inviting new persons from the community to attend the service.

Leadership: Please be in prayer for God to bring two individuals to us that could lead in the areas of music as well as children's ministry. These are two vital roles that need to filled very soon in order to begin preparing for the first service.

We have a praise to report: First Church has contacted Richard Hunter from Snellville UMC in suburban Atlanta to mentor us through this process. Richard has agreed to help us. Todd Nelson will be traveling to Atlanta next Thursday for an initial meeting. We will post the results from this meeting sometime next week.

Prayer: The journey to Andover is a spiritual journey first and foremost. We are most concerned with being faithful to God and allowing God to provide exactly what is needed. To this end, we are calling all First church members to a season of prayer and fasting for the new service. Let us all covenant to seek God. Pray for God to move in our city. Pray for people in the Andover area without a church home and more importantly pray for those who do not have a relationship with Christ.

Please keep checking in for more updates. If you want more information, please contact Todd Nelson at 233-0545 or todd@1stumc.org.

Feb. 6: Building Team Meeting

Be in prayer for the building team meeting tonight. The Andover group will be presenting an overview of the work that has been completed along with a direction to move forward. More information will be posted very soon. In the meantime, the feedback from the congregation about the direction as Andover has been positive. There have been good questions asked and good conversations have taken place. Thank you for your prayers and interest.