New church start, restarts celebrated at 2014 Louisiana Annual Conference

Conference members prayed for new church starts and restarts during the Wesley Awards, held the evening of June 10 in the Gold Dome during Annual Conference.

Rev. Rob Weber with Conference Church Development and Transformation introduced the pastors of these respective churches and led the corporate prayer. The pastors include Rev. Robert Johnson (New Church on Louisiana Avenue in Lafayette), Rev. Chad Brooks (New Faith Community in North Monroe), Revs. Sione Tu’uta and Billy Turner (New Faith Community at Carrollton) and Revs. Beth Love Tu’uta and Karen Seifert (Love UMC in Kenner).

Carolyn Dove, Conference Lay Leader, reported during Annual Conference that Church Starts Ministry, sponsored through the Conference Board of Laity, has designated $80,000 for the New Church on Louisiana Avenue in Lafayette, $30,000 for the New Faith Community at Carrollton, and $20,000 for Love UMC (formerly First UMC, Kenner/El Mesias UMC) in Kenner.

Funding to assist with the salaries of pastors, facility renovation or rent, and start-up expenses come from the Conference priority funds for New Faith Communities.