12 Churches to Watch: Part 8 in a Series

First Copperhill UMC
Cleveland District

Superintendent's comments: "Located on the line between Tennessee and Georgia, the Copperhill church finds itself in a fast-developing area, with people moving from Atlanta into what was once an isolated mountain community. Attendance has grown to the point where a new fellowship hall and enlarged narthex have been constructed. Copperhill is an example of what can happen when a congregation focuses its energy on outreach to and for the community."

The story: The Rev. Robert Wallace says right out what people might think about First Copperhill United Methodist Church, but pastors won't necessarily admit.

"People don't want to come here," says Wallace, referring to pastors under appointment who might not want to live at the edge of the conference. "But just last week, we had 129 in worship and $8,000 in the offering. Now, who's doing that? Who doesn't want to come here?"

It's true that Copperhill and its adjacent twin city, McCaysville, Ga., require a non-Interstate drive away from the larger towns in Holston Conference. (Cleveland is 42 miles away from Copperhill; Chattanooga, 67 miles.) Still, Copperhill and its neighboring church, Ducktown UMC, are blessed with the Ocoee River and all its charms, as well as a small-town friendliness. It's that kind of friendliness that makes retirees moving to the area feel at home when they start looking for a church, says Lay Leader Garry Day.

"People say that when they visit other churches, no one will talk to them," says Day. "But if someone comes here and even tries to slip out without being noticed, five to 10 congregation members will run them down. I guess we feel that you don't have to be a long-standing member to be welcome here."

Average worship attendance has grown from the 70s in 2001 to about 130 today. Day compliments a former pastor, the Rev. Barbara Clark, whom he says helped initiate the turnaround. "She was such a caring, nurturing pastor who bonded with our congregation."

"She taught me that women can preach," says Steve Stratton, who drives 36 miles from Robbinsville, N.C., to worship at First Copperhill.

Now, the congregation is preparing for what they hope will be more newcomers to the community, as well the long-timers.

"We have a lot of new people, but there's room for a lot more," says Day. "We have a lot of people in this town who don't go to church anywhere."

The congregation has already started an after-school program and a visitation program. They're mobilizing to reach out to a new assisted living facility that is expected to be built soon.

The narthex has already been expanded to give members and guests more space for fellowship before and after worship, and a new fellowship hall is expected to be completed later this month. Besides giving the church more space for church gatherings, First Copperhill wants to offer it to the community, which doesn't have many large meeting spaces. Much of the construction labor and material has been donated by church volunteers.

"We support a lot of missions," explains Day, mentioning Bill and Maria Humbane of Zimbabwe. "So we don't want a lot of our budget money going for construction."

First Copperhill also intends to continue to ride on its strength, by letting word get around town that this is a friendly, caring place. On a recent Monday night at First Copperhill UMC, the townspeople and local news reporters were warmly welcomed when they came out to hear Bishop James Swanson preach.

"Thank you for letting us be a part of a church that's on fire for the Lord," Bishop Swanson said to a packed sanctuary of about 225. "Keep on doing what you're doing. Keep on being a light in this community ñ a light that's not afraid to let new people come in and to welcome them within the confines of this church."

Now who doesn't want to come here?

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