PPrayer is so needed in this season full of constant change and uncertainty that appears to be absent of clarity and wisdom. Let this annual conference be a reminder that When Believers Pray…Vision is Revealed. Peace and Blessings,
BISHOP SHARMA D. LEWIS LOGAN Bishop in Residence, Mississippi Episcopal Area
Mississippi Conference of The United Methodist Church
WASTE TIME DWELLING IN THE PAST.
Reflect on the lessons we’ve learned and how far God has bought us. Then remember that God is a very present help (Psalm 46:1) and dwells with us in the now. The first word in the definition of faith is ‘now’ (Hebrews 11:1), so it is impossible to please God without now faith (Hebrews 11:6).
The first word in the definition of faith is ‘now’ – so it is impossible to please God without now faith.
Looking back over the last six years, we’ve faced a global pandemic and disaffiliation. Look back 20 years and you’ll see the whole Gulf Coast was battered by Hurricane Katrina. Last year, several United Methodist faith communities and extension ministries hosted worship services to commemorate the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the costliest hurricane to ever hit the United States according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). We mourn and remember the loss of people, and we celebrate the survivors and the resilience of communities, as well as the recovery efforts of people from across the connection.
Now, is the time to look around and see the needs of our communities. Now we pray that God shows us His vision for the future of the
Jasmine Haynes, MMC, APR Editor-in-Chief jhaynes@mississippi-umc.org
Mississippi Conference. In this year’s souvenir journal, bear witness to the ways in which we have seen and met the needs of our churches and communities through discipleship and hospitality training and disaster response. Read about how the work of the vision task force and office of finance and administration is focused on preparing us for the church’s current and future needs. This issue will inspire you to seek the Lord and expect His providence because we know that When Believers Pray...Vision is Revealed!
Peace and blessings, Jasmine Haynes
PUBLISHER
Mississippi Conference Communications
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Jasmine Haynes
ART DIRECTOR/GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Cindy W. Clark
ADVERTISING MANAGER
Matthew Johnson
SUMMER 2026
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DDEAR SISTERS AND BROTHERS IN THE MISSISSIPPI ANNUAL CONFERENCE,
Much like a family reunion, our annual conference is a time for gathering in worship, fellowship and shared meals. It fosters a sense of community and renewal among us.
I want to express my gratitude to the Mississippi Conference Planning Team and the Millsaps College Staff for their dedicated efforts and warm hospitality as we prepare for annual conference scheduled for June 3-5, 2026, in Jackson, Mississippi.
The theme, “When Believers Pray…Vision is Revealed,” is guided by the biblical passage found in the New King James Version (NKJV) of Habakkuk 2:2-3:
“Then the Lord answered me and said: ‘Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.’”
This passage emphasizes the importance of clearly articulating our vision and trusting in God’s perfect timing for its realization. It encourages faithfulness as we await God’s plan for the Mississippi Annual Conference. It is my hope that the Mississippi Annual Conference Vision Task Force is prepared to present
their work, which will serve as the foundation for our new vision, guiding us toward a purposeful future.
I am honored to return as the preacher for the opening worship service, with Bishop Delores “Dee” J. Williamston serving the Louisiana Annual Conference delivering the sermon at the ordering of ministry service at Saint Matthew’s United Methodist Church, in Madison, Mississippi. I also want to thank Rev. Dr. Larry Hilliard, dean of the cabinet and Rev. Paulette BufordJames, who will preach the memorial and closing worship services, respectively.
This year’s mission offering will support the Mississippi Food Network, which has been serving the state since 1984, providing essential support to those in need.
Let us continue to pray for guidance and unity during our gathering. May the Holy Spirit lead us as we seek to fulfill God’s calling. I look forward to worshiping and connecting with you all in Jackson!
Peace and Blessings,
Bishop Sharma D. Lewis Logan
Resident Bishop of the Mississippi Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church
“Then the Lord answered me and said: ‘Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an apportioned time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.”
– Habakkuk 2:2-3 NKJV
Thursday, May 28, 2026
6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. Laity Session Webinar
Wednesday, June 3, 2026
7:30 a.m.-1:15 p.m. Registration – upstairs Millsaps Hangar Dome
9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. Clergy Executive Session –Millsaps Hangar Dome
9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. Clergy Spouse Gathering –Kava Room – Millsaps (cafeteria building downstairs, no registration required)
11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. United Women in Faith Luncheon (by registration only) – St. Luke’s UMC –621 Duling Ave., Jackson
11:00 a.m. Candler/Duke Lunch at Annual Conference (by registration only via link on the AC App) The Christian Center at Millsaps, Room 120
1:15 p.m.-3:20 p.m. Registration closed for opening worship
1:15 p.m.-1:30 p.m. Gathering Music
1:30 p.m.-3:00 p.m. Opening Worship and Holy Communion Bishop Sharma D. Lewis Logan, Preaching
3:05 p.m. Opening Business Session #1 - Gavel to order - Welcome from Millsaps Provost - Lay business items on the table overnight - Consent calendar vote
- Laity address by Vera Thomas, Conference Lay Leader
- The Difference Maker Church Awards
- Other business
3:20 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Registration continues
4:30 p.m. Dinner Break
All Ordination Service participants should immediately travel to St. Matthew’s UMC, 7427 Old Canton Road, Madison, MS 39110 for a walk-thru of the service. Dinner will be provided for participants following the walk-thru. Clergy should wear black robe and red stole, as appropriate. A clergy group photo will be taken in the choir loft
This is a tentative agenda. Event details are subject to change. Visit the 2026 Session of the Mississippi Conference app for the latest updates.
following the worship service. An offering will be received to benefit the Endowment Fund for Theological Education in Africa, Europe and the Philippines.
7:00 p.m. A Service of Celebration and The Ordering of Ministry – Bishop Dee Williamston, Preaching St. Matthew’s UMC – 7427 Old Canton Road, Madison
An offering will be received during The Ordering of Ministry service to benefit the Endowment Fund for Theological Education in Africa, Europe and the Philippines as part of the May 17th Miracle Sunday offering.
Thursday, June 4, 2026
8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Registration continues
8:45 a.m.-9:00 a.m. Gathering Music
9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. Business Session #2
- Spiritual Leadership report
- Recognition of new retirees
10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Memorial Service
Rev. Dr. Larry Hilliard, Preaching
12:00 p.m.-2:15 p.m. Lunch Break
Retirees Luncheon at Anderson
UMC (by registration only) 6205 Hanging Moss Road, Jackson, MS 39206
Millsaps Concession stand open for lunch
2:15 p.m.-2:30 p.m. Gathering Music
2:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Business Session #3
- One Matters Discipleship Award
- Standing Rules committee report
- Petitions & Resolutions report
- CF&A report on 2027 budget
- Other business
5:00 p.m. Dinner Break
5:30 p.m. Laity Dinner (by registration)
– Galloway UMC, 305 N Congress St., Jackson
Friday, June 5, 2026
8:45 a.m.-9:00 a.m. Gathering Music
9:00 a.m.-11:15 a.m. Business Session #4
- CFA vote on 2027 budget
- Other business
11:15 a.m.
Closing Worship
Rev. Paulette Buford James, Preaching
- Adjournment Sine Die
BISHOP SHARMA D. LEWIS LOGAN
Episcopal Leader of the Mississippi Area
Preaching: Opening Worship Wednesday, June 3 at 1:30 p.m.
Bishop Sharma D. Lewis Logan was born and raised in Statesboro, Georgia in a loving Methodist family. Before coming to Mississippi, she served six years in the Richmond area of the Virginia Annual Conference. In 2016, she was the first African American woman to be elected bishop in the Southeastern Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church.
Prior to her election, she held a distinguished record of service in the North Georgia Conference serving as a district superintendent of the Atlanta-Decatur-Oxford District, pastor at Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church, associate (and subsequently senior associate) pastor of the 8,000-member Ben Hill United Methodist Church in Atlanta and as senior pastor of Powers Ferry United Methodist Church, a cross-racial assignment in Marietta, Georgia.
Offering her gifts to The United Methodist Church in a variety of ways, Lewis Logan sits on the board of multiple United Methodist seminaries and serves as a key member of organizations supporting women and African Americans in ministry. She is the author of “Journey to Transformation” and “Struggle to the Cross”—both Lenten studies—and “Advent in Four Words: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love,” an Advent study by four United Methodist bishops. Most recently, she co-authored “Ashes to Alleluia,” with her husband, Rev. Dr. Lewis E. Logan II, which is also a Lenten study. Lewis
Logan was also recently inducted into the Martin Luther King Jr. Board of Preachers at Morehouse College.
Lewis Logan is a graduate of Mercer University, the University of West Georgia and Gammon Theological Seminary at the Interdenominational Theological Center.
BISHOP DELORES “DEE” WILLIAMSTON
Episcopal Leader of the Louisiana Area
Preaching: Celebration and Ordering of Ministry Service
Wednesday, June 3 at 7:00 p.m.
Bishop Delores J. Williamston serves as bishop of the Louisiana Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. She was assigned to the Louisiana Conference at the South Central Jurisdictional meeting in Houston on November 3, 2022, and subsequently re-assigned to the Louisiana Conference in 2024.
Williamston was ordained as an elder in full connection of The United Methodist Church in June 2010, in the former Kansas East Conference, now the Great Plains Conference. In the Great Plains Conference, Williamston served as a superintendent in the Hays, Hutchinson and Salina Districts, and as director of clergy excellence and assistant to the bishop.
Prior to beginning her service with the Great Plains Conference, Williamston served churches in Topeka, Mentor, Salina and Independence, Kansas.
As bishop, Williamston serves as the president of the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women and is also the Council of Bishops liaison to the Disabilities Ministries
Committee of The United Methodist Church. In addition, Williamston serves on the board of Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century.
Williamston acquired her GED in 1982 and would continue her education, later receiving a bachelor’s degree in Christian Ethics and Management from Manhattan Christian College in Manhattan, Kan. in December 2000. She later completed a Master of Divinity from St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Mo. in 2007, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa, Okla. in May 2023.
Williamston is a Kansas Army National Guard veteran and a breast cancer survivor. She has one son, seven grandchildren and one pet Shih Tzu. She loves nature, storytelling, reading, walking, riding her bike, paint-by-number art, needle punch, crochet and knit.
District Superintendent of the Gulf Pines District Preaching: Memorial Service Thursday, June 4 at 10:30 a.m.
Rev. Dr. Larry H. Hilliard has been serving in ministry since 1991, bringing a wealth of experience, leadership and dedication to the church. He holds a Master of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry from Memphis Theological Seminary and earned his undergraduate degree in coaching and sports administration from the University of Southern Mississippi and William Carey University.
Hilliard is currently the superintendent of the Gulf Pines District, overseeing church leadership and development across the region. He is most proud of the four new congregations that have started under his tenure as superintendent as well as how the established congregations refused to let ministry be deterred by COVID or
disaffiliation. Hilliard has served the Mississippi Conference as a member of the higher education committee, council on finance and administration, the board of pensions and the district and conference board of ordained ministry.
Hilliard is married to Rev. Dr. Terry Lynn Hilliard. The couple share six children, one grandson and two dogs. He also loves mentoring younger pastors, kayaking, cutting grass and cherishing family time.
District Superintendent of the Central District
Preaching: Closing Worship Friday, June 5 at 11:15 a.m.
Rev. Paulette Buford-James has served as the superintendent of the Central District of the Mississippi Conference for seven years. On July 1, she will return to pastoral ministry.
Buford-James has served as a pastor in several churches in the Mississippi Conference and has a servant’s heart.
Buford-James says the most important thing she wants people to know about her is that she loves the Lord. And as the gospel song says, “If anybody asks you, just who I am, tell them I am redeemed, bought with a price, Jesus has changed my whole life.”
Buford-James is married to Rev. Darryl James, and is the mother of one daughter, Octavia Terrell, mother-in-law to Jeremy Terrell and grandmother (Nana) of one granddaughter, Chloe. She is the daughter of Marilyn and the late Russell Buford and is the oldest and only daughter of three siblings.
THIS PHRASE IS REMINISCENT OF A TIME when most men wore pocket watches easily identified by the visible chain that accompanied the watch. It is also a polite way of interrupting someone in a conversation and conveys respect and politeness in the act of seeking information. Do you have the time? Whether then or now, our time is valuable, limited and consumed by everyday tasks.
This year’s annual conference theme “When Believers Pray...Vision is Revealed” comes from Habakkuk 2: 2-3 which reads, “…Write the vision, and make it plain upon tablets, that he may run that readeth it...” The vision is something that is written in such a way that it can be understood and responded to without confusion and acted upon immediately.
The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church 2020/2024, Paragraph 127, tells us that “…every lay person is called to be missional...” This means that every lay person is connected to a religious mission, sent into the world for God’s mission, acting as his missionaries in daily life. As
United Methodists we carry out and support this missional theme very well through the conference offices, mission sites, partner nonprofits and mission agencies such as Choctaw Mission, Seashore Mission, St. Andrew’s Mission and other related ministries such as La Misión Hispanic Ministry. All are visible, outward signs of our missional efforts.
What about the personal side of the missional theme? Do we see, acknowledge or take time to be missionally mindful in our daily tasks? Praying for others, checking on the sick and shut in, making phone calls of well-being or cheer, sending cards or letters, running errands, inviting or checking on teens, young adults and our seasoned adults, are but a few of the personal missionally mindful things we can do each day. We should be selective. This is not an exhaustive list, and no one is expected to complete all of these in the span of a day.
Sometimes our plans are delayed or completely forgotten because of something we perceived as more important, more urgent or simply neglected to take time
The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church 2020/2024, Paragraph 127, tells us that “…every lay person is called to be missional...” This means that every lay person is connected to a religious mission, sent into the world for God’s mission, acting as his missionaries in daily life.
Mississippi Conference Lay Leader, Vera Thomas, speaks to participants at the African American Leadership Academy/ Iron Sharpens Iron generosity module at Anderson UMC in Jackson.
to write the task down. We say, “time got away from me,” or “we ran out of time.” The old saying, “out of sight, out of mind” is all to true. This reminds us of how easily our intentions can slip by when they are not recorded or kept in view.
I recently overheard a conversation between a father and daughter that went like this: “write it down, Daddy.” To which he replied, “Send me a text.”
Today we have many useful tools, apps and media that can assist us in staying on track with personal missional mindfulness. Use them and our thematic scripture to help you be successful in acting as God’s missionaries every day. Set aside time to review your plan and follow through; act promptly! Let us join together as one voice in saying yes to, “do you have the time?” Of course we do!
Blessings and peace!
“
“Rooted in Christ, the vision of the Mississippi Annual Conference is to build churches, communities and connections for all through outreach and innovation.”
By Jasmine Haynes Mississippi Conference Communications Specialist
After six months of meeting, reviewing charts and analyzing data, the Mississippi Conference Vision Task Force is unveiling the new conference vision:
“Rooted in Christ, the vision of the Mississippi Annual Conference is to build churches, communities and connections for all through outreach and innovation.”
Selected by Mississippi’s episcopal leader, Bishop Sharma D. Lewis Logan, the vision task force represents a mix of clergy and lay, men and women, staff and volunteers, cultures, ethnicities, generations and ministries as diverse as the state. Lewis Logan formed the task force because it had been over 10 years since conference leadership endeavored in casting a vision for The United Methodist Church in Mississippi. Although
the vision task force had its initial gathering November 8, 2025, the journey of cultivating a new vision for the conference began in 2024 with the state-wide regional tour known as “Chat and Chew 2.0.” This tour was an opportunity for Lewis Logan and conference leadership to hear from the clergy and laity in every district about their aspirations for ministry and mission throughout the state. That feedback was essential to the group’s vision-crafting process.
Although the Chat and Chew 2.0 data was integral, prayer was the priority. From the vision task force’s inception, Lewis Logan kept the group focused on prayer. Lewis Logan explained that prayer is an important spiritual discipline, and that the founder of Methodism, John Wesley, identified prayer as one of the means of grace. For this reason, Lewis Logan tasked Melissa Godbold to be the prayer
Mississippi’s episcopal leader, Bishop Sharma D. Lewis Logan reads the final vision statement to the group.
coordinator for the task force who began every meeting with prayer and devotion.
“She was responsible for keeping us in the presence of the Holy Spirit as we did our work,” said Lewis Logan. “It shaped the vision task force because we know when believers pray, God hears, God answers and God guides and directs.”
After devotional time, the first few meetings would then enter breakout groups to explore specific conference operations and identify areas for improvement. The group reviewed organizational charts to assess current structures, roles and reporting lines. Directors were assigned to lead breakout group discussions on the conference’s operations. Lewis Logan emphasized the need to understand the current state of the conference before
moving forward with a vision for the future.
Over the last couple of months, the task force divided into teams to review and analyze responses from local churches, extension ministries and district leaders that were captured in every district at the Chat and Chew 2.0 stops. The small groups would report their findings to the whole task force where the whole group noted some undeniable commonalities in each group’s observations. Member of First United Methodist Church in Tupelo and
present their work to the rest of the vision task force.
vision task force member, Tom Wicker explained that the work was fruitful, but not always easy.
See VISION FOCUS, page 25
“We want to be an annual conference that gets outside of our walls and gets into the community. There’s still a lot of work that must be done and we will continue to do that work.”
– Bishop Sharma Lewis Logan
By Jasmine Haynes Mississippi Conference Communications Specialist
Mississippi has the worst hunger problem in America, according to the Mississippi Food Network website. Almost one in five Mississippians don’t have enough to eat.
THE MISSION OFFERING FOR THE 2026 Session of the Mississippi Annual Conference will benefit the Mississippi Food Network and their efforts to fight food insecurity around the state. Mississippi’s episcopal leader, Bishop Sharma D. Lewis Logan, shared that she chose to give the statewide offering to the food bank after worshiping at We Are One United Methodist Church in Jackson and seeing the congregation’s food pantry and garden, and rejoicing that they were reaching over 200 families a month. She said that by giving towards the Mississippi Food Network, we not only help churches with food pantries like We Are One and the communities they serve, but we also help some United Methodists around the state who may have fallen on difficult times, and now need food assistance.
“In reflecting on my childhood, I have never ever in my lifetime had issues with not having enough food, and it breaks my heart to know that there are people who are hungry everyday,” said Lewis Logan. “Whatever we can do as an annual conference, I want us to support that.”
Mississippi has the worst hunger problem in America, according to the Mississippi Food Network website. Almost one in five Mississippians don’t have enough to eat. More than one in four children (26.5 percent) go to bed hungry most nights. One in eight of Mississippi’s seniors (12.2 percent) experience regular shortfalls in food.
Employees and volunteers help sort food in a distribution area at the Mississippi Food Network in Jackson. All photos on these two pages courtesy of Jasmine Haynes
Development manager for Mississippi Food Network, Stacey Thompson explained that one contributing factor to Mississippi’s hunger problem is that since the state is largely rural, there are food desserts—places where people live that are at least five miles from a grocery store. On top of that, people face challenges to find transportation to get to places that sell fresh produce, and often, grocery prices are too expensive, so people lack access to food, or simply cannot afford it. Additionally, when school is out for the summer some students who were eating breakfast and lunch at school begin eating more at home.
“So people begin to see higher grocery bills and start to realize that they have to make decisions: ‘Do I buy food, or medicine? Food or gas?’” said Thompson. “And that’s where we come in.”
Thompson shared that Mississippi Food Network tries to stabilize the food security of individuals and families so that they’re not having to worry about where their food is coming from, and that becomes one less difficult decision they have to make.
Mississippi Food Network’s mission is to change lives by fighting hunger today and feeding hope for a healthier tomorrow. There are 82 counties in Mississippi and according to Thompson, the food bank serves 56 central counties in Mississippi through roughly 430 partner agencies that get food from their distribution center and then those partners
““People
begin to see higher grocery bills and start to realize that they have to make decisions: ‘Do I buy food, or medicine? Food or gas? And that’s where we come in.”
– Stacey Thompson, Development Manager, Miss. Food Network
““When people come to a church they may be struggling with many preconceived notions of who Christians are, carrying pain from their previous church or just the anxiety of being around new people.”
– Rev. Trey Jones Assistant Director of FCF
By Matthew Johnson Mississippi Conference Communications Assistant
SSINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2015, THE OFFICE OF FAITH community formation, FCF, has carried a clear mandate: to create new faith communities and to revitalize existing ones. As they have carried out this calling in congregations across the Mississippi Conference, they discovered the true goal of their work is to train disciples to make disciples. One key to accomplishing that goal is teaching church staff how to make their church a hospitable and welcoming environment. Another is training church leaders and staff to be disciples who make disciples by showing the love and understanding of Jesus.
Rev. Timothy Thompson Sr. leads FCF. In his close to 40 years of ministry, Thompson has served as a pastor, district superintendent and currently as assistant to the bishop. Thompson shared that if churches want to be renewed and witness believers grow, churches should be places of genuine hospitality and be a place where discipleship can flourish.
“Our work has always been about more than programs or structures. It’s about transforming churches and transforming people, so that every believer grows into a follower of Jesus who helps others follow Him too.”
Associate director of FCF, Rev. Trey Jones, leads hospitality training. In working with ministries, Jones uses MissionInsite, an online demographic resource offered to
churches that provides demographic analysis of their community. Through a MissionInsite report churches can see raw data that details the number of people in a community who do not have a church home or regularly attend worship services. Jones reminds church leaders that they are not just looking at numbers, but at souls who need to be embraced by a faith community.
“MissionInsite reports demonstrate why hospitality is so important to the community around churches,” said Jones. “We like to show church leaders there are people in need of a faith community. When we welcome them with a warm friendly encounter, they will feel more connected and are more likely to stay.”
Jones went on to explain that churches must be authentic in their hospitality. They must model hospitality in their daily life and as a part of their ministry.
“When people come to a church they may be struggling with many preconceived notions of who Christians are, carrying pain from their previous church or just the anxiety of being around new people,” Jones explained. “When hospitality lives inside a person, they show it naturally and it helps remove internal guardrails so that people will feel welcome and open to discipleship.”
Rev. Dr. Jason Zebert, assistant director of FCF, trains church leaders to be disciples who resemble Jesus in their leadership and decision making. No stranger to discipleship coaching, Zebert is the new leader of the Discipleship Coaching
Outline Type
If churches want to be renewed and witness believers grow, churches should be places of genuine hospitality and be a place where discipleship can flourish.
–
Rev. Timothy Thompson Sr.
training program offered through Discipleship Ministries, a general agency of The United Methodist Church. The program helps congregations recapture a spirit of accountable discipleship and effectively develop intentional discipleship systems and pathways.
When developing disciples in their congregations, Zebert encourages ministry leaders to ask questions that will help them understand their members’ background and history. Zebert also encourages leaders to listen for understanding and not to respond. Lastly, he asks leaders to make sure they are taking steps to enhance their personal relationship with Jesus so that they can hear His voice as they lead others to him.
“To be effective in creating disciples we must be willing to listen to understand
and empathize with those we are leading,” Zebert explained. “Once you get a better understanding of a person, their life and history, you’ll be better able to draw out what God has put into them and use it to help them get closer to the mind of Christ.”
In the last year FCF has helped to revitalize more than 30 Mississippi Conference churches. If your church would like to take part in FCF’s hospitality or discipleship training contact their office at 601.354.0515.
HERNANDO WESLEY MEADOWS 1325 McIngvale Road Hernando, MS 38632
662-429-2070
CLARKSDALE FLOWERS
1251 Lee Drive Clarksdale, MS 38614
662-627-2222
TUPELO TRACEWAY
2800 West Main Street Tupelo, MS 38801
662-844-1441
WEST
603 Commerce Street West Point, MS 39773
662-494-1079
26894 East Main Street West Point, MS 39773 662-494-3640
PLACE 300 Airline Road Columbus, MS 39702 662-327-6716
CITY MARTHA COKER 2041 Grand Avenue Yazoo City, MS 39194 662-746-4621
246 Westover Drive Hattiesburg, MS 39402 601-264-8847
TURNER-DUVALL 32654 Hwy 57 West Leakesville, MS 39451 601-394-2621 GULFPORT
12170 Highland Way Gulfport, MS 39503 228-831-7000
“Disaster response helped repair 13 homes in Monroe County damaged due to a 2023 tornado, assisted more than 10 families across the state whose homes were damaged due to tornadoes and floods and assisted six families in Northern Mississippi who suffered damages during Winter Storm Fern.
“Our ERT volunteers are usually first on the scene after disasters happen. We need volunteers who can provide comfort for survivors in the aftermath of disaster events and show them that someone cares.” – William Morris
Disaster response volunteers help clear walking trails at Camp Lake Stephens. Photo courtesy of northernhillsumc.org
By Matthew Johnson Mississippi Conference Communications Assistant
IIN THE PAST YEAR, MISSISSIPPI Conference Disaster Response has been fulfilling its mission of being the hands and feet of Jesus for disaster survivors. With help from Mississippi Conference volunteers and their partnership with the United Methodist Committee on Relief, UMCOR, and United Methodist Volunteers in Mission, UMVIM, disaster response has helped restore hope, stability and dignity to individuals and families navigating prolonged recovery journeys.
According to associate recovery director, Dr. Robin Jackson, disaster response helped repair 13 homes in Monroe County damaged due to a 2023 tornado, assisted more than 10 families across the state whose homes were damaged due to tornadoes and floods and assisted six families in Northern Mississippi who suffered damages during Winter Storm Fern.
“These recovery efforts represent a continued commitment by the Mississippi Conference and its partners to address long-term disaster recovery needs across the state,” said Jackson. “Through coordinated case management, volunteer engagement, rebuilding efforts and collaborative partnerships, families across Mississippi have been able to return to safe, sanitary and secure housing while rebuilding their lives after disaster.”
See RESPONSE, page 26
Dr. Felicia Gavin, CFO Treasurer and Benefits Officer
“
By Matthew Johnson Mississippi Conference Communications Assistant
IIN HER FIRST YEAR AS MISSISSIPPI Conference Chief Financial Officer, CFO, Dr. Felicia Gavin modernized and streamlined the processes of the office of finance and administration to increase efficiency, transparency and accessibility. She instituted these changes to ensure proper stewardship and reporting of the funds entrusted to the Mississippi Conference.
Changes Gavin has made include:
• Mission share statements are now distributed electronically through email, allowing for more timely receipt of funds and efficient processing.
• The clergy compensation sheet has been transitioned from paper to an electronic format, improving accuracy and ease of use.
“I have been inspired by the commitment and resilience of our churches, clergy and laity across the conference. Even in the midst of so many changes, there remains a deep dedication to ministry, stewardship and connectional giving.” – Dr. Felicia Gavin
• Electronic enrollment for health benefits has empowered participants to manage their own selections more effectively.
• The office of finance and administration strengthened its staff by adding senior accountant, Jasmine Hall and controller, Trivia Jones. The new members of the office of finance and administration bring fresh perspectives and strong technical skills to their work.
• Conference financial data is regularly posted to the conference website to prioritize transparency.
Rev. Todd Watson, the incoming Central District superintendent, serves on the council of finance and administration, and is excited and impressed by the changes Gavin has made in her first year.
“What Dr. Gavin has accomplished in one year, I did not think possible,” said Watson. “She has automated what took multiple persons hours to enter. These shifts have not been easy, but they are remarkable.”
Gavin is also helping Mississippi Conference churches move into the future with their
administrative skills and leadership development. In collaboration with Millsaps College, she will be leading the Holistic Management Initiative. According to Gavin the initiative is a leadership and management development experience for clergy and laity. The eight-month cohort is designed to respond to the current realities facing congregations, including changing ministry conditions, smaller congregation size, questions of sustainability and a desire for stronger leadership capacity at the local church level. In addition, the program will address the organizational, financial, leadership, governance and strategic challenges that churches are experiencing in a season of transition and renewal.
“The Holistic Management Initiative will enhance clergy and laity’s leadership skills and help churches operate their business side more efficiently and strategically,” Gavin explained. “We will be helping churches to think outside the box so that they are maximizing their investments and finding creative revenue streams for ministry.”
In her own words, Gavin describes serving as conference CFO as a blessing and her God-ordained assignment. While enjoying her work as CFO, Gavin has also come to admire working with the people who give life to the Mississippi Conference.
“I have been inspired by the commitment and resilience of our churches, clergy and laity across the conference,” said Gavin. “Even in the midst of so many changes, there remains a deep dedication to ministry, stewardship and connectional giving.”
As CFO, Gavin is working to ensure that the Mississippi Conference moves into the future with efficiency and transparency while also creating opportunities for ministries to grow and maintain sound financial footing. Classes for the Holistic Management Initiative will begin in August 2026.
If you or your church is interested in being a part of the initiative contact the office of finance and administration at 601.354.0515.
“What Dr. Gavin has accomplished in one year, I did not think possible. She has automated what took multiple persons hours to enter. These shifts have not been easy, but they are remarkable.”
–
Rev. Todd Watson Central District Superintendent
give the food to their communities. Mid-South Food Bank serves 18 counties in North Mississippi and Feeding the Gulf Coast distributes food to the remaining eight counties in the state.
Mississippi Food Network’s service area includes 344,000 people who do not know where their next meal will come from and 100,000 of those people are seniors.
Thompson explained that monetary gifts are always helpful because for every dollar they receive in donations, they can provide six meals. Another way to help fight food insecurity is volunteering. They are open Monday through Friday and have big food banks in the fall. On average, Mississippi Food Network has 1,600 volunteers serving annually.
“Volunteering makes an impact because when you leave here, you’re reaching somebody in the Delta, or the Hattiesburg Region, or over in Starkville, so your reach extends beyond Jackson,” said Thompson.
She also expressed much gratitude for organizations like the Mississippi United Methodist Conference and said that the Mississippi Food Network depends on their community partners to achieve the work they do.
Congregations and extension ministries can give towards this year’s mission offering during the session of annual conference or give electronically using this QR code.
VISION FOCUS page 13
“The hardest thing was distilling all the information that we got from the Chat and Chews down and condensing it into a format that was short enough to remember, simple enough to understand, but theologically grounded enough to be Wesleyan,” shared Wicker.
Once the task force finished deliberations and came to a consensus on the conference vision, excitement was sparking throughout the room about how each congregation, extension ministry and mission would learn about and live into the vision. Bishop Lewis Logan expressed that she was excited that the vision was rooted in Christ and started with Mississippians, and about the limitless possibilities of living into the vision.
“We want to be an annual conference that gets outside of our walls and gets into the community,” explained Lewis Logan. “There’s still a lot of work that must be done and we will continue to do that work.”
Lewis Logan also shared excitement that along with the new vision, faith community formation ministry is now changing course and will move from being a conference office to becoming the responsibility of each of the districts.
Additionally, she wants to thank the vision task force for saying ‘yes’ to being a part of the new vision for the conference, the senior directors, Jasmine Haynes, Matthew Johnson and all the clergy and laity that prayed with and for the task force as they did their work.
To see the list and photos of the Mississippi Conference Vision Task Force and their progress over the last several months scan this QR code.
Director of connectional ministries and spiritual leadership, Rev. Dayna Goff, leads disaster response for the Mississippi Conference. She acknowledges that recovering from disaster can be a lengthy process, but she is thankful to the Mississippi Disaster Response team for their dedicated efforts to supporting brothers and sisters in their time of need.
“Full recovery from disasters can take years,” said Goff. “I am grateful to our Mississippi Conference Disaster Response employees and our volunteer coordinators for their faithful service that leads to lives being fully restored following a disaster.”
Early response teams, ERT, are teams of trained volunteers who assess the needs of communities after disaster events and help determine what assistance is needed. Volunteers come from Mississippi Conference congregations and have completed an ERT training class. Conference ERT coordinator, Willie Morris, leads ERT classes and details what he is planning to teach in upcoming trainings.
“Our ERT volunteers are usually first on the scene after disasters happen,” said Morris. “We need volunteers who can provide comfort for survivors in the aftermath of disaster events and show them that someone cares.”
If you or your church is interested in volunteering with Mississippi Disaster Response, contact Rev. Dayna Goff at 601.354.0515. If your church would like to host an ERT training, contact Willie Morris at 601.695.0880. If you would like to give an online donation to Mississippi Disaster Response scan this QR code.
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. – John 15:16
THE SEVEN SPRINGS
UMC FAMILY would like to congratulate our pastor, Rev. Dr. Benetra Mangum-Johnson on reaching this meaningful milestone in her journey of faith and service!
We pray God will continue to guide her by his wisdom and strengthen her with his grace. Welcome to a new chapter of purpose and anointing! May her dedication continue to be a testament to God’s faithfulness. Continue in His service, Your Seven Springs Family
NewBellZION
United Methodist Church
P.O. Box 144 39760 3743 Hwy. 25 South Starkville, MS 39759
662-722-2320
NewBellZion@yahoo.com
Thanking and Congratulating
Reverend Paulette Buford-James
For seven years of service in The Central District and her new pastoral appointment.
MISSION STATEMENT:
To Pray, Love, Reach and Teach
“Before
I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.” – Jeremiah 1:5
At the Service of Celebration and the Ordering of Ministry, the Mississippi Conference Board of Ordained Ministry presents Bishop Sharma D. Lewis Logan those persons who have responded to the call of God to proclaim and live out the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We honor the following persons and their call to life and work in ordained ministry:
Ordained Elder
Vivian Denise Brown-Toussaint
Christopher Louis Carpenter
Samuel William Jones
Benetra Ma’Sha Mangum
Johnson
Commissioning as Deacon and Elder
Steven Johnson Allen
Mary Beth Davis Ashley
Marcus Montrell Gaut
Carl Joseph Hibbert
Jennie Alicia Mustin
Mallory Carter Pickering
Daniel Hudson Taylor
We celebrate the ministry of the men and women retiring this year, knowing that they will use their new-found free time in other ways to serve God and advance His kingdom. Well done!
Note: This List reflects those retiring as of May 15, 2026
Elders in Full Connection
Kurt Thomas Appel
Kevin Bradley
Eugene Venable Bramlett Jr.
Steven Paul “Rusty” Keen
Vicki Watkins Landrum
Elbrist Mason
Lannis Lee May
Anthony Jerome “A.J.” Murray
Deacon in Full Connection
Julian Lamar Davis Jr.
Associate Member
Tyron Michael Stallings Sr.
Local Pastors
Donald Ray Arrington
Mae Grace Arrington
Shirley Fairley
