The Advocate has won two more awards from the South Carolina Press Association.

By Jessica Brodie. Thanks to the hard work and cooking skills of 300 volunteers in the Florence and Marion districts, hurricane victims in Nichols are getting much-needed funds to help rebuild their devastated town.

By Jessica Brodie. Dozens of United Methodist ministry representatives from all over South Carolina headed to Columbia March 4 for the Conference Connectional Ministries spring gathering, passing a $2.06 million budget request and discussing a host of church needs and endeavors.

By Jessica Brodie. On May 2, 2017, at least eight United Methodist-associated ministries in the Midlands will get some much-needed funds through an online giving day.

By Jessica Brodie. United Methodist youth across the state are continuing local efforts to collect new and gently used bikes for people in need.

Lollie Haselden, Rock Hill District administrative assistant for the past five years, is succeeding Bettye Rivers as executive assistant to Bishop L. Jonathan Holston.

A holiday in Haiti may not be what most 13-year-old American girls would dream of, but it was a dream come true for Margeaux Stapleton of Gilbert. By Lisa Williams.

By Jessica Brodie. Advent United Methodist Church is recovering this month after a fire Feb. 8 destroyed its sanctuary. No one was injured in the blaze, which happened around lunchtime that day after construction crews renovating the structure reportedly sparked a small fire while cutting steel. Now, church leaders are doing their best to carry on, armed with prayer and a commitment to perseverance. “The building burned, but the church is still here, and we’re moving forward,” said the Rev. Michael Turner, Advent’s senior pastor. “We believe we’ll be stronger than ever.”

By Jessica Brodie. One thousand South Carolina men spent three days rooting themselves in the Lord. And at the end of it all, they emerged transformed, fired up and ready to take the church in a bold new direction.

By Jessica Brodie. A home, where before there was none. A way out and a step up, when before there was only the endless, debilitating cycle of poverty. And all thanks to a new conference-wide mission project called simply the Homeless Initiative.

By Jessica Brodie. Seventy years after South Carolina’s last known lynching, a crowd gathered to remember the tragedy and share thoughts about what the church can do today to confront the sin of racism. Retired Bishop Will Willimon, South Carolina Resident Bishop Jonathan Holston, scholar Will Gravely and a host of United Methodist pastors were among a handful who shared thoughts with the packed Leonard Auditorium at Wofford College Feb. 17 in “Who Lynched Willie Earle? Preaching to Confront Racism.”