Author: Nordbrock

SPRC / DS meetings

There are now 114 charges/circuits in the Greater Southwest District! SCHEDULE In order for District Superintendent Dean Prentiss to meet with every SPRC this year, Zoom meetings will take place during the weekday with circuits meeting together. Pastors are not required to attend this meeting but are welcome. Review the schedule. If your date/time will not work… Continue Reading SPRC / DS meetings

2026 Branch Church Conferences 

As part of our continued commitment to connection, Branches will gather together for our annual Church Conferences. All of the congregations in a Branch will meet in the same sanctuary, voting on their individual church business while also celebrating shared ministry. This practice strengthens our identity as one body in Christ and reminds us that we are never… Continue Reading 2026 Branch Church Conferences 

2026 District Ministry Shares Balance

Thank you to all the churches that have already paid their entire District Ministry Shares for 2026! Here are the balances due as of August 1, 2026. If you have questions, please contact Sara Wolfsen. ALBION: FIRST – ALLEGAN – ALLENDALE: VALLEY CHURCH – ALMENA – AUGUSTA: FELLOWSHIP 191.00 BANGOR: SIMPSON – BARRY COUNTY: WOODLAND… Continue Reading 2026 District Ministry Shares Balance

A Summer of Learning, Community, and Faith at Semilla

This summer at Semilla, things were busy! We had two interns join us to discover what church is all about. These two young ladies learned so much about Semilla and The United Methodist Church—not only from Sunday morning services, but throughout the week as well. We held our English as a Second Language (ESL) classes… Continue Reading A Summer of Learning, Community, and Faith at Semilla

District Leadership Opportunities

Compass with needle pointing the word leadership with blur effect plus blue and black tones. Conceptual image for illustration of leader motivation

God calls us to work together to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. The Greater Southwest District is seeking representative leadership with different ages, backgrounds, and experiences from all twelve District Branches. Anyone that feels called to serve is invited to complete the District Leadership Application.   District ABAR Team… Continue Reading District Leadership Opportunities

2026 Branches

Branch 1 ALLENDALE: VALLEY CHURCHBURNIPS UMCCOOPERSVILLE: FAITH COMMUNITY CHURCHDORR: CROSSWIND COMMUNITY UMCGEORGETOWN UMCGRAND HAVEN: CHURCH OF THE DUNESGRANDVILLE UMCHOLLAND: FIRST UMCMARNE UMCWAYLAND UMC Branch 2 BYRON CENTER UMCCOURTLAND-OAKFIELD UMCGRAND RAPIDS: ALDERSGATE UMCGRAND RAPIDS: FIRST UMCGRAND RAPIDS: LA NUEVA ESPERANZA UMCGRAND RAPIDS: NORTHLAWN UMCGRAND RAPIDS: SAINT PAUL’S UMCGRAND RAPIDS: SOUTH UMCGRAND RAPIDS: TRINITY UMCGRAND RAPIDS: VIETNAMESE… Continue Reading 2026 Branches

Branches: Growing Together in Christ

Introduction The Branch model in the Greater Southwest District is a simple but powerful invitation: United Methodist churches that share geography are encouraged to share life, prayer, and ministry. Branches are not committees, obligations, or requirements. They are relationships—rooted in Christ, nurtured by the Holy Spirit, and bearing fruit for the transformation of the world.… Continue Reading Branches: Growing Together in Christ

District becomes even greater

Please join us in welcoming new churches and ministries to the expanded Greater Southwest District as of July 1, 2026! Albion: First Allegan Allendale: Valley Church Almena Augusta: Fellowship Bangor: Simpson Barry County: Woodland Bath Battle Creek: Chapel Hill Battle Creek: First Battle Creek: Newton Battle Creek: Washington Heights Berrien County: Lakeside Bowne Center Bradley:… Continue Reading District becomes even greater

Congregational Support Director

When our Parchment United Methodist Church celebrated its 100th Birthday in September of 2024, I was so glad that our then new District Superintendent, Dean Prentiss, could be part of that event. Some years ago, both Dean and I and the churches we were pastoring were part of a process called VCI (Vital Church Initiative).… Continue Reading Congregational Support Director

Sowing Seeds, Sewing Hope

~Pastor Miriam Peralta At Semilla, our sewing classes have always been about more than just mastering a stitch or following a pattern. We believe that every skill we gain is a gift meant to be shared, that everyone has something to be blessed. Now in our third cycle of offering this class, that mission of “giving… Continue Reading Sowing Seeds, Sewing Hope