By Jessica Brodie. Coastal residents took a collective breath last month after a brush with Hurricane Isaias. Now, ERTs stand ready for the next storm.

By Jessica Brodie. A church in the Midlands is celebrating with two families this summer as they reached a long-awaited milestone: home ownership.

With masks, social distancing and limited attendance, the South Carolina Annual Conference’s Service for Ordination and Commissioning looked a bit different this year. Nevertheless, 20 men and women were commissioned or ordained as provisional members, deacons and elders at a service filled with powerful preaching, music and prayer Aug. 8. By Jessica Brodie.

Before the pandemic, a group of children’s ministers in the Upstate were already gathering to exchange ideas, brainstorm and support each other. But when COVID-19 hit this spring, they evolved to an online group that has been a lifeline for many, as well as a practical way to keep doing new and effective ministry for God’s Kingdom. By Jessica Brodie.

The Clergy Session of the 2020 South Carolina Annual Conference convened Aug. 1—the first time ever in virtual session because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. More than 500 pastors and other UMCSC clergy members participated through a secured Zoom Webinar and a separate secured voting platform, all facilitated by the conference’s media partner, Good News TV. By Dan O’Mara.

One local church continues to help hungry neighbors while continuing to keep its congregation safe and socially distant.

The Advocate needs abut 10 more narratives before it can begin work on its second racial narratives compilation. Your story is welcome.

The Rev. Millie Nelson Smith is South Carolina's new director of Connectional Ministries.

The Spartanburg District hosted a Celebration of Education on Sunday, Aug. 9, at the seven school district offices in Spartanburg County. The groups met in the parking lot of each office, practiced safe distancing, wore masks and prayed for teachers, students, administrators, support staff and volunteers. By Rev. Walter Cantwell.

The week of July 20, following strict COVID-19 protocols including wearing masks, social distancing and frequent hand washing, a United Methodist Volunteers in Mission work team was able to complete the needed repairs on the home of a mother and her three children damaged in the April 12 EF-3 tornado.

Grace UMC offered what they called WARMahatchie 2020.  This mission was  a joint ministry between the youth of Grace, their WARM (Winterization and Repair Ministry) project volunteers, the United Methodist Men, local church Salkehatchie volunteers, the church’s Missions Committee, The United Way and Grace’s local leadership.

South Carolina elder the Rev. Wendy Hudson was among five church planters included in a United Methodist Church Discipleship Ministries Path 1 resource called RE-Launch.