gathering at Centenary

United Methodist Church in

Macon sang "Open the Eyes of

My Heart" in Spanish and in

English, but the language of love

was heard above all. Just the

Sunday before, on October 4,

Centenary UMC welcomed Nueva

Vida UMC, a Hispano/Latino congregation,

into the life of its church.

The two United Methodist

churches had been in conversation

for months about uniting the congregations

for joint ministry.

"This merger will enhance our

outreach to the community. We are

creating one congregation with

many ports of entry. I am grateful

to be a part of this family of God,"

said Rev. Tim Bagwell, Senior

Pastor at Centenary UMC.

"Centenary UMC has received

us with open arms. The people

have extended a wonderful welcome

to us. On my first Sunday

here, I felt like this is my church.

It’s an exciting time. We are happy

to be together as friends, sons and

daughters of the same God," said

Rev. David Diaz, Pastor of Nueva

Vida UMC.

"Nueva Vida means ‘new life’

in English. Along with helping

people find a new life–a real life in

Christ–we’re serving as advocates

for the Hispano/Latino community.

Many Hispanic people are looking

for housing in safe neighborhoods,

jobs, medical help, and dealing

with immigration issues. Some situations

are hard for them. In the

church, we need to support one

another. Centenary UMC is open

and connected to the community.

They invited us in to work together.

This church is a good place for

us. We are worshipping with

Anglos, Asians, African

Americans, Mexicans, and other

nationalities. We are one in Jesus

Christ. I know Jesus will bless

these two ministries in one congregation,"

Rev. Diaz said.

Before joining the South

Georgia Conference of the United

Methodist Church, Rev. Diaz pastored

for 10 years in Kansas and

opened a Hispanic ministry in that

UM conference. Born in Palestina,

Durango, Mexico, Rev. Diaz studied

theology at the John Wesley

Seminary in Monterrey, Mexico

and served several churches in

Mexico before moving to the

United States. He and his wife

Elizabeth have three sons, Jezreel,

Jaaziel, and Jonathan.

Nueva Vida’s weekly Worship

service is held on Sundays from 4

to 6 p.m. On Wednesdays, a Bible

study is offered from 7:30 to 8:30

p.m., and, on Fridays, a

prayer/praise service is held from

7:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Worship services at Centenary

are held at 11 a.m. on Sunday

mornings. The first Wednesday

night of each month, called

Wonderful Wednesdays, starts at 6

p.m. and includes a meal as well

as activities for the children.

Beth Dunwody, Director of

Worship at Centenary, said of the

two congregations, "We will not

always be together, but we are in

ministry together." She explained

that not all services will be bi-lingual

in nature.

One of Centenary’s ministries

is to provide a free weekly breakfast

for its neighbors, many of

whom are homeless. On Sunday

mornings, the community comes

together to prepare and serve over

200 meals, and share God’s message

of love with one another.

Together, they take part in what it

truly means to be The Church.

"The Sunday morning community

breakfasts have been more of

a blessing for us than for the

homeless population. We’ve met

some of the neatest people who

are, for one reason or another,

going through hard times.

Everyone feels welcome here, and

it’s refreshing when people feel

welcome," said a member of

Centenary UMC.

The church has included its

children in outreach efforts. An

adult Sunday school class and the

children of the church have committed

to maintaining a community

pedestrian bridge on College Place

nearby.

Centenary and Nueva Vida

UMC is located on the corner of

College and Ash Streets in Macon.

For more information, go to

478-742-8926.