WIG Stories
Does your church or ministry have a WIG Story to share?
Please send the CTC Communications team an email (vancemorton@ctcumc.org and/or susancraig@ctcumc.org) with a summary of the story you wish to share and your contact information. (Of course, full drafts of the narrative, photos and/or videos are also welcome and encouraged!)
FUMC Taylor Beer & Bible - A CTC WIG New Faith Community Narrative
9/11/2019
The Central Texas Conference's Wildly Important Goal (or WIG) is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. One of the most successful ways for churches to activate the WIG and grow their church, make disciples and become a vital part of their community is by launching ...
Wesley Back to School - A New Faith Community WIG Video Narrative
9/4/2019
When asked “Why the Wesley?” a student at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, TX stated, "The one thing that the Wesley has done for me that I simply can't find anywhere else is the way that Jesus is so accessible to these people (college students)." Through worship nights, free lunches, popsicles and popcorn, bible studies and much more, these vital campus ministries are actively growing the next generation of leaders in the church and are enthusiastically living into our Wildly Important Goal (WIG) of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
CTC Youth in Mission - A New Faith Community WIG Video Narrative
8/27/2019
A new WIG video narrative highlights one of the many way CTCYM brings more than 1,400 youth and adults together to put Christian faith into action.
Reflect & Reconnect - A New Faith Community WIG Video Narrative from FUMC Eastland
8/21/2019
The laity of Eastland UMC wanted to revive their Wednesday night gatherings to better reach out to their community and revitalize the church in general. After much prayer, a few brainstorm meetings and a willingness to take a leap of faith, Reflect and Reconnect was born.
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Shoes For Kids - A New Faith Community WIG Video Narrative from Hico UMC
8/14/2019
Sharing God’s love in a tangible way is at the heart of a movement that’s reached far beyond the walls of First United Methodist Church of Hico. You might call it a Wildly Important Goal (WIG) set by the United Methodist Women in 2006 – years before the phrase was coined and became our focus ...
WIG Scorecards Show 18th Straight Month of Growth!
8/12/2019
The pattern of growth in the local churches of the CTC continued in May 2019. Avg worship attendance is up 2% and 3% for NFCs.
THE PORCH - A New Faith Community WIG Video Narrative from FUMC Grapevine
8/7/2019
The Central Texas Conference's Wildly Important Goal (or WIG) is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. One of the most successful ways that churches are activating the WIG and growing their church in size and importance to their community is by launching New Places ...
It only takes a SPARK . . .
8/5/2019
Harker Heights UMC broke with its traditional VBS model and went outside the walls of the church and into the community to "reach families who were not already be reached" and introduce them to Jesus.
WIG Scorecards Show 17th Straight Month of Growth!
7/15/2019
The pattern of growth in the local churches of the CTC continued in May 2019. Avg worship attendance is up 2% and 5% for NFCs.
St. Stephen UMC Celebrates “Small Beginnings” with Saturday Morning B-Ball & Bible
6/5/2019
A (very) small group of two men getting together to shoot hoops and study the Bible at St. Stephen UMC has grown to 12 strong in just six weeks - only three of which were members of the church when B-Ball and Bible began.
What's ‘On Tap’ for St. Barnabas?
5/31/2019
St. Barnabas launches a New Faith Community designed to meet people where they are and get to know them while sharing the Bible and a beer.
An Amazing Time of Ministry in the Name of Jesus Christ
5/13/2019
First UMC Corsicana’s 12 Holy Week services draw more than 1,000 worshippers – a first for the 168-year-old church - including Professions of Faith and baptisms.
Gifts and Graces (from Unlikely Places)
5/1/2019
How does the death of a beloved church member turn into 20,000 meals? Maybe not how you'd expect. Sometimes, gifts and graces come from unexpected places.
Drive-Through Prayer Opens a Window for Ovilla's Outdoor Faith Community
4/16/2019
From drive-through ashes to three-days-a-week drive-through prayers to and Outdoor Worship New Faith Community, Ovilla UMC is taking Christ to the people of Ovilla and the surrounding area..
Sharing Eight Virtues of Rapidly Growing Churches
4/10/2019
Mike Ramsdell shares his insights and comments on a new book focused on the things all rapidly growing churches do and do well.
Twenty Minutes of Outside Play Helped Lorena UMC’s Discipleship Efforts Really KLICK
4/5/2019
A simple idea about how to better engage children and youth has transformed Lorena UMC’s discipleship outlook and effectiveness and is producing results in worship/small group attendance, volunteers, giving and more.
Keeping Church Relevant in Groesbeck with Happy Hour Faith Talks
3/26/2019
Happy Hour Faith Talks gather young parents together each week as part of Groesbeck FUMC’s intentional efforts to “keep church relevant” to its families.
Hallelujah Food Pantry Feeds the Hungry of Hewitt in Many Ways
3/25/2019
Since 2012, volunteers from Hewitt FUMC have transformed the lives of the needy in its community by providing food, Jesus' love and eager offers fellowship and worship.
CTC Churches Continue Growth Trend; Reaching New People in New Ways
3/22/2019
The CTC experienced unprecedented growth in average worship attendance in 2018 and is currently on a 13-month growth streak thanks to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and a focus on the WIG.
A Simple Way In
3/21/2019
What can happen when you open the doors of your church to a bunch of neighborhood kids to just come and play? Disciples can begin to be made, that's what.
How Fractals and Multipliers Help FUMC Round Rock Add New LifeGroups and New Disciples
3/18/2019
FUMC Round Rock is employing advanced mathematics and "passionate" laity as it prepares to launch as many as 13 New Faith Communities (or LifeGroups) on March 31 as part of “Vision 2025.”
Worship at a Church Without Walls
3/15/2019
St. Barnabas ‘bigs’ and ‘littles’ worship together at a church without walls as part of their discipleship journey by Susan Craig / photos courtesy of Lavell McCollum & St. Barnabas UMC Youth from St. Barnabas United Methodist Church made their customary, annual trip south on a recent Sunday ...
Rev. John McKellar Challenges Confirmands to Make Church ‘A Part of Your Story’
3/11/2019
Earlier this month, White's Chapel welcomed 110 new members via its 2019 Confirmation Class - a class that was special to co-pastor John McKellar in a couple of profound ways.
Clifton UMC's Dinner Church Breaks Bread and New Discipleship Ground
3/8/2019
FUMC Clifton is reaching out to the folks in their community who don't have a church home via Dinner Church, with a focus of food, fellowship and learning about Jesus.
Project Transformation - Be “Blessed to be a Part of It”
3/6/2019
PT Central Texas still has a few openings left for Summer 2019 interns with a love of learning, serving and ready to be transformed.
FUMC Joshua Takes a Unique Approach in Easter Sunday Promotions
3/6/2019
First Joshua is always on the lookout for ways to connect with and welcome the unchurched. So, they are asking folks to make reservations for Easter?
Equipping and Empowering Laity is at the Core of the Revitalization Underway at First UMC Watauga
3/5/2019
A focus on encouraging the laity to try new things in their efforts to make disciples of Jesus Christ is at the heart of the revitalization underway at First Watauga.
God Squad Gatherings Generate Quite a Crowd in Moody
2/28/2019
The God Squad at Moody First is a labor of love, the result of prayer and hard work - hard work that is paying good disciple making dividends.
Mentoring Makes for More Effective Discipling Through “Freshley”’ at the TCU Wesley
2/27/2019
Anna Breck - a TCU Junior - noticed that the TCU Wesley wasn't retaining freshmen by the spring semester. So she did something about it and now disciples are being made!
Equally Yoked: Laity Initiative at Smithfield UMC Empowers ‘The Priesthood of All Believers’
2/27/2019
The concept of being “equally yoked” in ministry is at the heart of a Lay Leadership Initiative which is transforming lives at Smithfield United Methodist Church in North Richland Hills.
West District Churches Unite in Funding a New Well Near Maua, Kenya
2/25/2019
Earlier this year, a West District Mission team's discipleship grew along with that of local Maua-area villagers as water began to flow from the ground.
Civil Rights Pilgrimage is a powerful part of the Navarro Wesley journey
2/12/2019
UCF Wesley students recently took a Civil Rights Pilgrimage - a discipleship journey designed to help students become active Christians and leaders.
Despite the Fear - 2019 Mid-Winter 1 Fosters Hope & Discipleship
2/5/2019
Teens from all over the CTC gathered for Mid-Winter 2019 last weekend. The annual event is led the young disciples of CCYM.
Trinity Arlington Rises Up Against Hunger
2/4/2019
Nearly 150 member of Trinity Arlington UMC responded to Jesus' call to his disciples to "'feed my lambs" by packing more than 2000 meals to help people in need all around the world.
Cookies for Heroes
1/30/2019
Upwards of 94,000 to 102,000 cookies were delivered shortly before Christmas to Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene and Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo
Planning for Easter
1/30/2019
Fear of failure? Avoid these 12 common mistakes when planning your Easter services
Kennedale Soup Kitchen Nourishes Its Community Body & Soul
1/28/2019
What can a small local church accomplish with little more than an idea and prayer? How about feeding the community and boosting professions of faith in the process.
Reaching New People with New Faith Communities
1/23/2019
Churches who have received a NFC grant have 4.4 percent growth in Average Worship Attendance for the last 12 months - more than double the total Conference growth. Is your church ready to get your grant?
Georgetown Family Bakes God’s Love into Their Discipleship
1/22/2019
How did a chance Christmas encounter at a Wal-Mart, a love of baking and a girl's desire to serve transform into a thriving discipleship ministry?
Ovilla UMC Offers God's Love Via Drive-Thru Prayers
1/21/2019
Ovilla UMC's Drive-Thru prayer ministry is inspiring the church to reach out and make disciples in new and unconventional ways.
Jambalaya Soup for the Soul
1/18/2019
Volunteers of all ages spent part of their Saturday being disciples (and growing a few) packing 20,000 jambalaya lentil soup kits at Arlington Heights UMC (Fort Worth).
New ERTs Prepare to Serve
1/16/2019
25 people said yes to being called to serve as ERTs and began the training process on Jan. That’s two to three times the number of folks in a typical training session.
How the Holy Spirit and a WIG are Growing Central Texas Conference Churches
1/15/2019
Average weekly worship attendance & professions of faith have increased for 11 consecutive months – a trend that’s expected to continue into 2019.
Disciple Making Missions in Alvarado
1/10/2019
FUMC Alvarado is activating the WIG and making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world by engaging in Disciple Making Missions across its community and around the world.
Troy UMC Prepares for The Boom
1/9/2019
Troy UMC is gearing up for the projected population boom by accelerating the planned opening of its Ministry Activity Center dedicated to missions and ministry, children and youth, and the community.
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Bishop Lowry's District Sharings
12/12/2018
Bishop Mike Lowry held a series of Episcopal Teaching sessions / conversations on the three plans put forth by the Commission on A Way Forward (COWF) and other matters related to the 2019 Called Special General Conference in St. Louis (Feb. 23-26). These times of sharing took place in each of the ...
WIG Tales
12/12/2018
The following are some “quick hit” summaries of how the local churches across the Central Texas Conference have been trying new ways to reach new people in response to our WIG mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. If you have a quick tale to tell of how you, ...
WIG and Project Transformation
12/11/2018
The mission of Project Transformation (PT) is to engage young adults in purposeful leadership and ministry, support children in holistic development and connect churches with communities. For the past two summers, local churches of the Central Texas Conference have actively lived out The WIG and ...
Tarleton Wesley Facelift
12/7/2018
Almost any clergy person will tell you that your first year at a new appointment is about three things: learning, observing and loving. It is vital to a new ministry setting to learn all you can about the ministry/ministries of your new faith community, to observe every aspect of the life of the ...