By Jessica Brodie. One step, one boundary, one risk at a time. For 150 years, United Methodist Women have been at work, pressing against limits and pushing toward the future. Now, a century-and-a-half after they began, those small steps have resulted in transformative, significant achievements for women, children and youth across the world. “God called, and women answered!” That was the resounding word from Harriett Jane Olson, general secretary and chief executive officer of National United Methodist Women, who spoke to hundreds who gathered for the South Carolina United Methodist Women’s 47th annual meeting Oct. 25-26.

By Jessica Brodie. When Harry White learned one of his fellow church members could not go home from assisted living because the man couldn’t access the house in his wheelchair, his heart was stirred. Immediately, White and other church members knew what had to be done. “We need to build a ramp for him if we’re ever going to get him back home again,” said White, a member of St. John United Methodist Church, Lynchburg. Now, White and others in the district have a drive to build even more ramps for people with accessibility troubles.

By Laura Camby McCaskill. One pastor has a passion to reach the unreached with new options for those who come to worship. Dr. Clay Faulk and his wife, the Rev. Beth Faulk, have been serving Lee Road United Methodist Church, Taylors, since 2017. Now, with the help of the Greenville District and other community and church support, they and a team of others have raised the funds to convert a gym next door into a new worship space they call “Connect Church.”

By Jessica Brodie. South Carolina church leaders eager to dig deeper into what church truly is and discover new ways to bring others into the flock will gather again this month, Nov. 16, to take their ideas to the next level.

By Jessica Brodie. A United Methodist pastor, the Rev. Walter C. Ballenger III, has had his charges dismissed and his record expunged after spending the last four years fighting to clear his name. Now, he is hopeful his clean record will help him get reappointed as a pastor.

The recent Bishop L. Jonathan Holston Golf Tournament held at the Orangeburg Country Club Sept. 30 raised more than $22,000, which will benefit Africa University and students throughout the African continent. By William Hamilton.

It’s been 13 years, and The Lord’s Ladle Café soup kitchen at Goose Creek United Methodist Church is still going strong.

Asbury Hills Camp & Retreat Center has the nod to proceed with Phase 1 of their multiphase master plan: moving ahead with a new aquatic complex for the Upstate camp.

South Carolina has awarded its highest civilian honor to a retired United Methodist pastor whose decades of public services have helped the Greenwood community and beyond. The Rev. Ted Morton Jr. was honored Aug. 13 with the Order of the Palmetto during the August Summer Social of the Cambridge Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, of which Morton serves as chaplain.

Men from across South Carolina will head to Mount Horeb United Methodist Church Feb. 28-29, 2020 for the South Carolina UMC’s annual Men N Ministry event.

By Jessica Brodie. The Rev. Ken Nelson has been tapped as South Carolina’s episcopal nominee by the South Carolina delegation to the 2020 General and Jurisdictional conferences. Nelson will be among those considered for the role of bishop in the Southeastern Jurisdiction’s 15 annual conferences when the next Jurisdictional Conference is held beginning July 15, 2020. At least five episcopal openings are expected as bishops currently serving in conferences shift into retirement.