A Word from the Pastor
Welcome to Monroe First United Methodist Church and our Web Site!
Our Lord Jesus Christ continues to bless our church in countless and myriad ways as we continue to experience the best a life in Christ has to offer through our many ministry endeavors and programs. Our congregation here at Monroe First continues to experience growth and renewal in church membership, church staffing, and ministry programing efforts. We are truly blessed with a wide variety of life-enhancing opportunities for all ages and stages of people who attend or visit Monroe First United Methodist Church.
Under the passionate and capable leadership of Lisa Smith, we continue to enjoy excellent ministry efforts of Children’s Christian Education and activities along with music training and programming for all children and youth ages. These combined ministry efforts continue to build upon an already strong foundation with exciting, imaginative and bold new visions in the overall areas of Christian Education and the wide array of church activities. Our sustained goal is to provide the very best Christian education and recreational opportunities for all children and their families.
The Chancel Choir and our Traditional Worship Music Ministry continues under the sure leadership of the Reverend Joe Buffaloe. Our music ministry under Joe’s spirit-led leadership realizes ongoing new vitality and passion – not to mention quality of performance. Monroe First’s Music Ministry’s fine efforts and accomplishments would surely not be made possible were it not for our excellent pianist and organist. Janet Clark, assisted on occasion by our Director of Children's Ministry & Music, Lisa Smith, is a true virtuoso when it comes to playing our excellent Moeller Pipe Organ and Steinway Grand Piano.
The 9:00 CONNECT worship service is our high-energy and very successful modern-style worship ministry endeavor.
Currently gathering in our Fellowship Hall, the 9:00 CONNECT is a spirit-filled, modern/contemporary music driven, and Word of God focused, time of joyful worship and spiritual expression. Led by the Praise Band musicians and singers, all who come will experience God in Christ in a new, unique, and spiritually powerful manner.Our Middle and High School Youth Ministries, under the dynamic and capable leadership of Wes Sorrells (a graduate of Asbury Seminary with an MA specializing in Youth and Christian Education), continue the ever-important ministry of shaping our young adults into the image of Christ as they grow into adulthood as the next generation of leaders in our church and world. In the coming years and into the foreseeable future, we will invest all we are capable of towards the Christian growth and maturation of our younger men and women. They and their time is not only our future, they and their time is now. Wes, as Monroe First United Methodist Church’s Assistant to the Pastor and Minister of Youth and Families, works in partnership with our entire church staff as well as the Youth Council, to offer the very best Christian leadership and activities to our middle and high school youth.
Monroe First United Methodist Church has been a consistent lighthouse of Christian ministry and service to the greater Walton County area since 1824. Today Monroe First serves and is blessed by an ever increasing active membership from truly the wider Athens/Atlanta metropolitan region – drawing membership and effecting ministry efforts from Walton, Oconee, Clark, Rockdale, Newton, and Gwinnett Counties. As Monroe First has faithfully served the cause of Christ over the years, God continues to richly bless Monroe First United Methodist Church in return.
I warmly invite you to experience Christ here in this warm and loving community known as Monroe First United Methodist Church. As you enter into this sacred, alive, and energized space I truly believe you will receive the fullness of God’s blessings and richness of life that God intends for us all.
We serve and worship a loving and faithful God – for that reason alone may I offer this statement with utmost confidence – for Monroe First United Methodist Church and all who enter her doors - the best is yet to come! Won’t you come and see – as God continues to reveal His glory and mercy and life upon this worshiping and serving family of Jesus Christ.