Partners in Progress 2020 | Page 32

First United Methodist Church Offering a Better Life in Christ What makes First Church special? The church welcomes people of all ages and all backgrounds. Whether it’s Vacation Bible School or Bible study groups, everyone has a chance to be involved with the community. That is one of the things that makes First United Methodist special, said Rev. Dr. Terry Hunt, senior pastor. “This is a large church with a small-church feel,” Hunt said while talking about the “sense of connectedness” among members of the congregation. Because of that connectedness, no achievements go unnoticed. That is evident when the children’s choir lifts their voices in worship The children might not recognize how much they’ve improved over any given period of time, but the congregation certainly does. “The congregation realizes how remarkable it is,” said Mary Louise Baker, a member of the leadership team. “If you give kids a sense of pride in what they’re doing, for the Lord, they love sharing their musical offerings with others.” The choir helps children develop their self-esteem and confidence by working on their craft and singing during services. The choir also helps them discover new ways of expressing their faith through music. Their development process is always evolving because of that. “We’re growing our ministry through different genres,” 101 W. Church St., Laurinburg, NC 28352 32 • PROGRESS 2020