Mississippi Conference of The United Methodist Church
TheCircuitRider Jason Moore teaches AI techniques to conference clergy.
Matthew Johnson, Communications Assistant
On Saturday, September 12, Mississippi Conference clergy gathered at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Brandon to learn practical and helpful ways their churches can use artificial intelligence, AI, in ministry and outreach. Bestselling author of AI and the Church: A Clear Guide for the Curious and Courageous, Jason Moore led the training and clergy who attended the training left with a better understanding of AI and how to use it in ministry. Read More
FALL OUTREACH
Start Your Trunk or Treat Planning Now
Trunk or treat events are fall outreach activities
Building Strong Foundations for Strong Ministries
that introduce members of the community to
churches. To have successful trunk or treat events, churches must begin planning early. Click here for communication tips from Resource UMC that will help your congregation plan early to effectively reach members of the community.
Photo courtesy of Matthew Johnson
Miss. Clergy Learn AI Techniques
Photo courtesy of Matthew Johnson
Monthly Newsletter
Mississippi Conference faith communities no matter the size or
2026 Benedictine Prayer Retreat. The retreat takes place November 2 through 5 at the St. Bernard Abbey in Cullman, Alabama. The cost of the retreat is $350 and 3.0 CEUs are available for clergy who attend. Click here to register today. The deadline to register is October 23.
from partnering with our connectional kingdom impact investors at the Methodist Foundation of Mississippi. Click here to watch a video from Bishop Sharma Lewis Logan, pictured above, detailing ways to take advantage of the stewardship ideas, and the financial and educational resources at the Methodist Foundation and how they can help grow your church’s resources for mission and ministry.
Photo right: Clergy attending the Benedictine Prayer Retreat take a group photo.
IN THIS ISSUE:
Denomination Gathering page 2 | Hub City Wesley’s Growth page 2 | Hispanic Heritage Month page 2 | Lay Servant School in Spanish page 3 | CFO Updates page 3 | Transformational Leadership Conference page 3
October 2026
There are still 12 slots available for the
an extension ministry—can benefit
Photo courtesy of Rev. Trey Harper
Slots Available for the 2026 Benedictine Prayer Retreat
budget—whether a local church, or
Connection News Apply for the Ridgway Award Travel Experience
The Methodist Foundation of Mississippi invites clergy and seminary students to
apply for the Walter Steven Ridgway Award. Two award recipients will join the 2027 “Journeys of Paul in Türkiye and Nicaea” expedition, April 8–19, 2027. The award will provide a full scholarship/honorarium covering trip expenses. One scholarship will be awarded to an ordained minister, with preference given to clergy under age 40, and one to a seminary student or early-career clergy person preparing for full-time
The “fairy chimney” formations located in the historic region of Cappadocia, Turkey. Photo courtesy of methodistfm.org
Christian ministry. Applications are open from September 1 through October 31. Click here for more information and to apply, or call 601.948.8845 or email information@methodistfm.org.
Miss. Delegation to Attend Leadership Gathering in Canada
Hub City Wesley Foundation Grows
Pictured left, Rev. Walter Roberts, associate
The Hub City Wesley Foundation
conference lay leader, Kayra Johnson and Emily
on the campus of the University of
Mote will be attending the Council of Bishops
Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg
Leadership Gathering October 20 through 24 in
is constructing a larger building, see
Calgary, Canada. The purpose of the leadership
rendering below, to keep up with its
gathering will be to gather hope, vision and
growing campus ministry. Click here
imagination for the future of The United Methodist
for the full story on the construction here to learn how you can support the construction of the new building
Mississippi Conference leadership gathering delegation at annual conference. Photo courtesy of Greg Campbell Photography, Inc.
through Hub City Wesley’s Space
Leadership Gathering.
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month
for Grace Campaign. Click here for the donation hub where you can
Image courtesy of hubcitywesley.org
Church from across the connectional landscape. Click here to learn more about the Council of Bishops
make an online donation to all of
Each year, from September 15 through
the Mississippi Conference’s Wesley
October 15, the United States observes
Foundation campus ministries.
Hispanic Heritage Month. Click here to read
Photo courtesy of Greg Campbell Photography, Inc.
from WDAM in Hattiesburg. Click
ways you can celebrate and assist the Hispanic and Latino presence in your community from associate conference lay leader, Kayra Johnson. Click here to learn how to build relationships with Hispanic and Latino communities from United Methodist pastors who have served in Hispanic and Latino congregations.
2 The Circuit Rider Monthly Newsletter | October 2026
Associate lay leader, Kayra Johnson, center, stands with Hispanic laity at the Laity Dinner.
Miss.Conference at the State Fair
La Misión Hosts First Lay Servant Training in Spanish
In September, La Misión, the Hispanic
ministry of New Albany United Methodist Church, in partnership with the Mississippi Conference, hosted the conference’s first basic lay servant training in Spanish. Laity from New Albany, Jackson and Forest gathered at Galloway Memorial United Bishop Sharma Lewis Logan, left, prays with fairgoers during the 2025 Mississippi State Fair.
Mississippi Conference volunteers will be offering prayer, gospel tracts and
Rev. David Martinez, center, teach during lay servant class.
Methodist Church in Jackson for the weekend-long event. During the event,
Photo courtesy of Matthew Johnson
Photo courtesy of Matthew Johnson
Mississippi Conference News
participants learned United Methodist Church history and were prepared and equipped to lead ministry in their congregations. Read More
information on the conference’s missions and ministries at the 2026 Mississippi
October CFO Updates
State Fair October 8 through 18. The Mississippi Conference booth will be
In her latest notes, Mississippi Conference CFO, Dr. Felicia Gavin,
located inside the Mississippi Trade Mart.
photo right, advises clergy of the upcoming health insurance
For more information on the Mississippi
open enrollment. For the second year, the conference will be using
Conference State Fair booth email Rev.
Employee Navigator, an online benefits administrator system, to
Dr. Jason Zebert at coachjasonzebert@ gmail.com.
make managing your benefits enrollment easier than ever. Click here to read the CFO’s full notes. Photo courtesy of Greg Campbell Photography, Inc.
Register Now for the Leadership Conference Click here to register for the 2026 Transformational Leadership Conference. The event takes place Friday and Saturday, October 16 and 17 at Starkville First UMC. The conference features a lineup of dynamic guest speakers that will challenge, encourage and equip clergy and laity to inspire transformational leadership in their congregations. Click here for more information on the event and speakers. The cost to attend the conference is $20 for either Friday or Saturday and $30 if you attend both days. Friday’s event is for clergy only. Both laity and clergy are invited to attend Saturday’s session. Lunch will be included Friday and Saturday.
October 2026 | The Circuit Rider Monthly Newsletter 3
Clergy who attend will receive .2 CEUs for Friday and .5 CEUs for Saturday. Those who attend both days will receive .8 CEUs.
October 2026 | The Circuit Rider Monthly Newsletter 3
Local Church Online Training | Lay Leadership Committee
As nominations committees across the state begin to discern new leadership for this charge conference season, the Mississippi Conference has resources to
help these servant leaders learn their roles and responsibilities. The committee on lay leadership is responsible for identifying and deploying leaders within a local church. Watch Rev. Todd Watson’s, photo right, lay leadership training to learn more. To view more resources on other subject areas of local church training click here.
SAVE THE DATES Support Students on World Communion Sunday – Oct. 4 Sunday, October 4 is World Communion Sunday. On this special Sunday, United Methodists join Christians around the world in celebrating Holy Communion and remembering that we are one in Christ, no matter our background, language or culture. The World Communion Sunday offering supports scholarships and leadership training for under-represented students helping the Church become more inclusive and better equipped to serve. Click here for the World Communion Sunday pastor and leader kit for resources you can use in your congregation.
Celebrate Laity Sunday – Oct. 18 Each year on Laity Sunday, United Methodist churches across the connection celebrate the ministry of all. The theme for this year’s Laity Sunday is “Together by Grace: Be Grounded in Love,” taken from Ephesians 3:17. Click here for Laity Sunday worship planning resources and graphics you can use in your congregation.
Attend UMVIM Team Leader Training – Oct. 24 The Mississippi Conference Office of Connectional Ministries has an exciting opportunity for clergy and laity to receive disaster volunteer training during United Methodist Volunteers in Mission’s, UMVIM, team leader training. The event takes place
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES As a courtesy to the Mississippi Annual Conference, job announcements from across the United Methodist connection are featured in The Circuit Rider. To submit an employment notice, send an email to news@mississippi-umc.org. Postings are not guaranteed to appear more than once in Mississippi Conference publications. To read a description of job opening(s) listed below as well as other listings, click here. • Part-Time Retiree and Benefits Associate, Conference Office (Jackson, MS) • Executive Director, Methodist Foundation of Mississippi (Ridgeland, MS) • Business Manager/ Event Planner, GCFA (Nashville, TN) • Chief Officer of Marketing and Engagement, GCFA (Nashville, TN) • Media Production Specialist, Louisiana Conference (Baton Rouge, LA) • Resource Development, Associate Specialist, GCORR (Washington, DC) • Chief Financial Officer, GCFA (Nashville, TN) • Director of Children and Youth Ministry, Columbia First UMC (Columbia, TN) • Assistant Director of Student Ministry, Asbury United Methodist Church (Birmingham, AL)
4 The Circuit Rider Monthly Newsletter | October 2026
on Saturday, October 24, beginning at 8:00 a.m. at Ocean Springs United Methodist Church in Ocean Springs. The cost to register for the event is $40 and clergy who participate will receive 0.8 CEUs. Click here for more information on the event and to register.
Deadline to Submit Mission Grant Application – Oct. 31 The deadline to submit your application for Connectional Ministries Mission Grants is October 31. These matching grants are available to United Methodist churches and typically range from $250 to $2,500 per project. Extraordinary applications for up to $5,000 will be considered. Click here for the Mission Grant application.
CARES AND CONCERNS As you pause to pray this week, take time to ask for strength, peace and comfort for the families and friends of those listed below who have joined the Church Triumphant: • Rev. Dorothy Williams went to be with the Lord on September 13. • Ann McCord, widow of Rev. Billy McCord, passed away on August 27. • Rev. Warren Moffat joined the Church Triumphant on August 20.