Lumpkin United Methodist Church

06/14/2026

Lumpkin UMC worship 6/14/2026

06/09/2026

Elaine Orr Youngblood, 78, passed away peacefully at her home in Columbus, Georgia, on June 7, 2026, after a courageous battle with metastatic melanoma.

Elaine was born on August 15, 1947, in Americus, Georgia, to the late Donald E. Orr and Mary Ranew Orr. She was also preceded in death by her son, Randy Lee; her brother, Douglas Orr; her sister-in-law, Judy Orr; and her nephews, Phillip Orr and Don Orr.

She is survived by her loving husband of 41 years, Jack Youngblood of Columbus, Georgia; her daughter, Cindy (Tommy) Marsh of Columbus, Georgia; her stepchildren, David (Donna) Youngblood and Donna Manning; her brother, Robert (Sherrie) Orr of Richland, Georgia; her nephews, David (Cindy) Orr and Chuck Orr; her grandchildren, Matt Marsh, Sophie (Harrison) Brown, and Austin Lee; along with many other family members and friends who will cherish her memory.

Elaine was raised in Richland, Georgia, where she attended Richland School through the eleventh grade before graduating from Stewart County High School in Lumpkin in 1965. She often joked that she did not enjoy having to finish school in Lumpkin because of the longtime rivalry between the two schools. During her high school years, she was proud to serve as a cheerleader in both the tenth and eleventh grades.

Following graduation, Elaine attended Georgia Southwestern College in Americus before moving to Columbus, Georgia. She began her career with Regal Jewelry and later dedicated more than 30 years of service to Blue Cross and Blue Shield, where she eventually retired.

Elaine will be remembered for her sweet spirit, her infectious laugh, and her unwavering love for her family. She had a gift for bringing joy to those around her and was happiest when spending time with the people she loved most.

A devoted sports fan, Elaine was the biggest fan of the Atlanta Braves and rarely missed watching them on TV. She also loved watching the Georgia Bulldogs to see if she could spot her granddaughter Sophie, who was a Georgette with the Redcoat Band. Music also brought her great joy. She loved listening to George Strait, and her favorite band was The Stylistics.

Most importantly, Elaine was a faithful believer in Jesus Christ. She was baptized in 1961 alongside her brother Robert at Richland Baptist Church under the leadership of Brother Mavity, and her faith remained a guiding force throughout her life.

A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at Harmony Cemetery in Richland, Georgia. Family and friends are invited to visit with the family following the service. Robert Orr will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Columbus Hospice of Georgia and Alabama.

Baldwin Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements. P O Box 394, Richland, GA

06/09/2026

News from the 2026 Annual Conference session
Detailed recaps of each day’s events, including listings of those who retired and the ministers and spouses who were remembered during the memorial service, as well as the appointment list, photos, recordings, and bulletin insert can be found by clicking here.


2026 Annual Conference meets for historic session
As the summer breeze flowed outside, the Holy Spirit flowed inside as nearly 400 South Georgia United Methodists gathered in Macon, Ga. for the 2026 South Georgia Annual Conference session. Held May 31 through June 2 at Vineville United Methodist Church, clergy and lay members from across South Georgia gathered under the theme “Unto the Least of These” to worship, conference in the Wesleyan tradition, celebrate, and discern. Click here to read highlights of the conference.


South Georgia Approves Unification Plan
In a historic moment on Monday, June 1, 2026, the South Georgia Annual Conference voted to affirm the Georgia Unification Plan. The vote was 96.6% in favor of the resolutions (284-10).

This action represents an important step in the proposed unification process, but additional approvals are still required before unification becomes official. The next step will be consideration of the plan by the North Georgia Annual Conference when they meet June 18-20, 2026. Read more


South Georgia Elects Delegation to General and Jurisdictional Conferences
During the 2026 Annual Conference session, clergy and lay members voted to elect the South Georgia delegation to the 2028 General and Jurisdictional Conferences.

The elected delegation will help shape the future direction of The United Methodist Church through their participation in General and Jurisdictional Conferences, where matters of doctrine, polity, mission, structure, and budgeting are considered.

Laity elected Scott Cleaveland as the lay delegate to General Conference, Kelly Roberson as the lay delegate to the Jurisdictional Conference, and Patsy Thomas as the alternate delegate. Nancy Malcom, Willie Belfield, and Eric Hopfensperger will serve as the reserve delegates.

Clergy elected Rev. Dr. Scott Hagan as the clergy delegate to General Conference, Rev. Doreen Smalls as the clergy delegate to the Jurisdictional Conference, and Rev. Teresa Edwards as the alternate delegate. Rev. Jon Brown, Rev. Dr. Ben Gosden, and Rev. Dr. Jeff Cook will serve as the reserve delegates. Read more


Bishop Dease sets 2026-2027 pastoral appointments
On Tuesday, June 2, at the conclusion of the 2026 Annual Conference session, Bishop Robin Dease fixed the 2026-2027 pastoral appointments for the South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church. Click here to download and view the list of appointments by district.


Memorial Service 2026: 'Remember'
A Memorial Service for those faithful servants who have served in our Conference was held Tuesday afternoon, June 2, at 2:00 p.m. in the sanctuary of Vineville United Methodist Church. The Rev. Dr. Nita Crump was the preacher for this service.

Dr. Crump offered a message of comfort and hope centered on a simple word: “remember.” She reflected on the wonder of faith and the questions that arise in times of loss.

“In the pain and anguish of loss, we cry out to God asking, ‘Why?’” she said. “But I really do believe that God answers the question why with one word … ‘remember.’” Read more


Celebrating Ministry Milestones at the 2026 Annual Conference session

History, celebration, and a shared sense of purpose marked the 2026 South Georgia Annual Conference session in Macon May 31–June 2. As clergy and laity gathered under the theme “Unto the Least of These,” we reflected on Christ’s call to serve our neighbors and witnessed that call embodied in the lives of those being commissioned, ordained, and entering retirement. Each year, Annual Conference is a special time to celebrate ministry milestones. From those answering God's call to ministry for the first time to those completing a lifetime of service, we celebrated the faithful witness that continues to shape the Church and its mission in the world. Read more about the Service of Ordination with Commissioning and the Retiree Recognition service.


Every year the South Georgia Annual Conference celebrates and honors excellence in ministry This year, five individuals, one church and one charge were honored for their contributions to local church ministry, their disciple-making efforts, and their faithfulness to God’s call, receiving some of the denomination’s most prestigious awards.

Kim Heim, Director of the Wesley Foundation at Columbus State University, received the Francis Asbury Award from the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry; Rev. Howard White and the Taylor County Charge, received the One Matters Award from Discipleship Ministries; Nina Noles, member of Ray City UMC, received the Denman Laity Evangelism Award from the Foundation on Evangelism; and Rev. Anne Bosarge (clergy), Mrs. Denise Rooks (laity), and Trinity UMC in Warner Robins (church) received the Awards from United Methodist Communications. Read more


For full Annual Conference coverage, visit www.sgaumc.org/annualcon ference.

Daily Recaps

Sunday, May 31
Monday, June 1
Tuesday, June 2

Sunday, May 31
Monday, June 1
Tuesday, June 2

From the Bishop
There’s a sweet, sweet spirit in this place
In a video message at the conclusion of the 2026 Annual Conference session, Bishop Robin Dease shared the following:

It is a beautiful day in the city of Macon as we conclude our Annual Conference. There is a sweet, sweet spirit in this place, and I know it's the spirit of the Lord: the excitement, the energy, the love, the willingness to step into the unfamiliar and trust God for all that we will be doing in the state of Georgia. What a wonderful annual conference - the way you surprised me, the way you showed up, and the way you have embraced and loved what our vision is for the future! I'm just excited about what's going to happen in the next few days, in the next few months. and over the next year. You all are the best. I love you, and I am looking forward to all that we will do together. I just ask that you keep the faith and trust God. I will see you soon!



Conference Highlights and Updates
2026 Camp Connect Leadership Team
Your 2026 Camp Connect Leadership Team has already been hard at work this summer, including serving during the 2026 Annual Conference session! The camping season kicked off yesterday, June 8, with High School Camp. We have two weeks of middle school camp and two weeks of elementary camp still to come. We pray for fun-filled camps where children and youth grow closer to Jesus! Camps are held at Epworth By The Sea on St. Simons Island. We would love to have your child join us. Register today! Interested in sponsoring a camper or staff member this summer? Let's talk! Email Suzanne Akins at [email protected].

June Toolkit: Serving with the Least of These
This June, the Connectional Ministries Toolkit focuses on “Serving with the Least of These” and offers resources to help individuals and churches make an even greater impact in our communities and guide us towards a deeper relationship with Christ. Anne Bosarge challenges us to consider how we can move beyond simply serving others to equipping them to discover and use their own spiritual gifts in service.



Now accepting applications for Wood Home in Epworth Acres
Have you ever dreamed of retiring on St. Simons Island? For nearly 70 years, the South Georgia Conference's Wood Homes ministry has provided affordable housing for retired clergy and surviving spouses, offering a beautiful place to call home while honoring a lifetime of faithful service. A Wood Home is currently available, and applications are being accepted through July 15, 2026. Learn more about this unique ministry and how to apply.



Upcoming Events
Camp Connect Summer Camp - June & July
There is still room in each of the Camp Connect summer camps. Register today! Find all the details at www.campconnectumc.org.

Georgia Pastors' School - July 13-16
Clergy from across the North and South Georgia Conferences are invited to beautiful St. Simons Island for the annual Georgia Pastors' School July 13-16, 2026. This year's theme - Revival Reimagined: Rekindling the Fire, Reaching the Lost, Restoring the Margins - puts two exceptional voices in your corner: Rev. Tod Bolsinger, whose work on adaptive leadership helps pastors lead through real change, and Rev. Amber Lowe-Woodfork, a scholar-practitioner bringing fresh vision for justice-rooted, relational evangelism. Bishop Robin Dease will preach at the closing worship. Georgia Pastors’ School provides inspiration, education, fellowship, fun, and relaxation for clergy and their families each year. Find more information here: www.georgiapastorsschool.org.

United Women in Faith's Mission u - July 17-19
The 2026 Mission u is set for July 17-19 at Epworth by the Sea on St. Simons Island. This year's theme is “Experiencing Emmanuel" where participants explore how “God is With Us” from biblical times to our present day as we walk in our faith. Mission u provides opportunities to prepare for leadership in mission study and personal growth. Adult and age-appropriate programs/activities for youth and children are offered. Scholarships are available for girls participating in the youth program. Learn more here

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06/07/2026

06/05/2026

June 2026 Newsletter
Mental Health Awareness
In his response to trauma, we can develop what Dr. Marc Schoen calls “out of control fear centers.” We experience “significant inner turmoil… on the behavioral/emotional front, we become hyper-vigilant, overly sensitive, lose our religious or spiritual faith, and begin to approach our lives in a guarded and defensive manner, while becoming more distrustful in our relationships—at work and home—and more prone to anger. We make choices and decisions that are designed to protect our losses rather than further our gains. We become less tolerant of differences, and find comfort typically in that which is familiar, while differences are viewed as threatening.” Perhaps you have had seasons of your life in which you have experienced similar turmoil.

When fear “takes over the drivers’ seat” in our lives, Schoen states that “pleasure, love, joy, faith and connection” are relegated to the “backseat.” It is important to evaluate what is in the driver’s seat of our lives. I have read that the stress level of teens today is equivalent to a 1950’s adult psych ward patient. The su***de rate in teenagers is at its highest rate in history. The number of teenage drug overdoses has more than doubled since the 1990’s. Out of control fear and anxiety is not just a problem that teenagers face. Anxiety disorders affect 40 million adults (19 percent of those 18 and older), making anxiety the most common mental illness in our country.

We have just concluded Mental Health Awareness Month. The reality is we must not relegate awareness to a single month when the impact on children, teens and adults is so great. It is important that we acknowledge and find ways to address the trauma in our lives and churches. Our faith calls us to prioritize our mental health, not relegate it to the backseat. This means we must surround ourselves with a community of support that includes mental health professionals. We have resources at our disposal in South Georgia, so do not hesitate to reach out.

Blessings,

Jeff

District Set-Up Meeting
The Northwest District Set-Up meeting will be held on Monday, August 3, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. with lunch included. It will be held at Andrew College in Cuthbert (501 College St. Cuthbert, GA 39840).

The agenda will include introductions of clergy, a review of Charge Conference plans for the Fall, an update on what we know about new District lines and structures, and training to equip local church leaders.

Extension Ministers from agencies affiliated with South Georgia are welcome to attend. There will be time for introductions and brief remarks about how local churches can connect with or support the agencies. You are welcome to set up a table and offer handouts or giveaways.

2026 Annual Conference Recap

The 2026 South Georgia Annual Conference has concluded after a meaningful time of worship, celebration, remembrance, and holy conferencing. Clergy and laity gathered from across the conference to make important decisions, celebrate ministry milestones, honor those who have gone before us, and seek God's direction for the future.

If you missed any part of this year's Annual Conference or would like to revisit key moments, daily recap articles, photos, videos, and highlights are available online. The daily recaps and conference coverage can be found here: https://www.sgaumc.org/annualconference

05/31/2026

Lumpkin UMC worship 5/31/2026

05/24/2026

Lumpkin UMC worship 5/24/2026