SUCCESS STORIES

Our conference is the fastest growing of all The United Methodist conferences in the nation (net growth for the most recent statistical year of 2002). This is in large part due to new church development. Although young churches account for only 9% of all churches in the Conference, they account for 65% of the conference's membership growth in the last 50 years.

Because the conference has had the foresight and leadership necessary to successfully start 124 new churches in the last half century, it has grown in membership at a time when the denomination as a whole has been in decline. A 1997 study by the Office of Research of the General Board of Global Ministries showed that the North Carolina Conference was the only conference in the entire United Methodist denomination to show an increase in membership, average worship attendance, and number of churches open.

Below are some samples of very successful new churches in our conference—

	Covenant UMC, Greenville (est. 1992) In little more than a decade of existence, Covenant has become the largest church in the conference. New visitors are drawn to the church's hospitable atmosphere, inspirational music program, and extensive ministries.
	Faith Harbor UMC, Surf City (est. 2000) Faith Harbor serves this coastal community with its traditional but fresh approach. It has become "a place for your heart to be touched, your family to grow and your world to be changed."
	New Song UMC, New Bern (est. 1998) New Song's style of ministry is mirrored by its unique domed structure. The contemporary worship and emphasis on Christian fundamentals have reached the unchurched and brought more than 450 people to worship each Sunday.
	Reconciliation UMC, Durham (est. 1998) A national model for new churches, Reconciliation seeks out people of all races and cultures. As one member put it: "I look around at the people in our congregation on Sunday morning and know that this is what heaven will be like."
	St. Francis UMC, Cary (est. 1981) St. Francis has been critical to bringing people to Christ in the town of Cary as it has grown exponentially. It prides itself as being a Eucharistic church, a church with social outreach, and a church sensitive to the needs of children.

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