And, More Ministries!
Encourage, Teach, and Transform
Our Ministries
Hinton Rural Life Center offers a variety of ministries to impact the lives of individuals, small groups, churches, and organizations to engage and transform. We hope participants will leave Hinton with new insight into faith, clearer perspective on ministry, greater depth of personal understanding, and practical tools for continuing the journey.
Download our ministries flyer for a summary of our ministries and resources: Community Outreach

Firewood Ministry
If you depend on wood as your primary source of heat, yet you are having a difficult time gathering up firewood or you’re not able to afford it, Hinton Center would like to help! Our firewood located on Retreat Drive. When you come to Hinton Center, turn left at the large wooden ‘Hinton Rural Life Center’ sign and proceed until you see the firewood. You can pick up firewood on Wednesdays from 9am to 1pm at no cost. Delivery is available if you aren’t able to pick it up yourself or have family/friends get it for you. For more information, please call Ricky at 828-389-8336 or email ricky@hintoncenter.org.
No one should go cold or have to choose between medicine or a warm home because of a lack of heating resources.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Hinton Center needs volunteers throughout the year to keep our firewood lot stocked. Volunteers help pick up donations of wood, split wood, help staff the firewood lot, and deliver firewood to those unable to get it themselves. If you, your family, your church group, business, or a group of friends have some time you could volunteer to our firewood ministry, please contact Ricky at 828-389-8336 or ricky@hintoncenter.org .
DONATE FIREWOOD: If you had trees cut down on your property or a storm has blown trees down, and you do not need the wood then consider donating the lumber to Hinton’s Firewood Ministry. Through your generous actions, Hinton’s ‘woodchuckers’ can collect and process the wood in preparation for persons who need it for heating during the winter. You can submit your donation on line by clicking here.
NOTE: We do not take pine trees.

Christmas Care of Clay County
Hinton facilitates Christmas Care of Clay County, where local partners work together to provide children with new clothing for Christmas gifts. Parents or guardians can opt to shop for their children or use the help of volunteers. The ministry is supported through local donations. Families who would like to participate must submit an application, which is available in October. Click here to complete the application on-line.
El Centro Hinton facilita un programa llamado “Christmas Care of Clay County,” en el cual los negocios locales trabajan juntos para proporcionar ropa nueva a los niños como regalo de navidad. A las familias participantes se les proveerá de una tarjeta regalo con la cual podrán ir de compras a la tienda Burke’s. Las familias que deseen participar deben enviar una aplicación en línea o hacerla en el Centro Hinton, lo cual se hace generalmente en octubre.
Haga clic aquí para completar la solicitud en línea.


Poverty Initiative
For more than 50 years, Hinton has provided opportunities for service and for deeper connection in the local, rural community. As a community catalyst, Hinton has been able to help connect people to people and to encourage awareness and understanding around issues of poverty. Through grant funding from The Duke Endowment, Hinton has embarked upon a new, two year poverty initiative, Partnering for Change: Creating a Community of Mutuality and Engagement. Hinton has the opportunity to encourage conversation between a broad range of community leaders in Clay and Cherokee Counties in North Carolina and Towns County in Georgia, to better understand the character of this wider community through a 10 month process with an asset based community development planning study, and to offer opportunities for community leaders to learn and to broaden perspectives on poverty.
For more information contact: dawn@hintoncenter.org
Church Vitality
Hinton Center has a long-standing commitment to serving small and rural churches. and, out of this well-established focus, has crafted a new process by which Hinton supports and resources these churches. Hinton recognizes that the majority of United Methodist churches are categorized as small (100 average worship attendance or less). Therefore, we encourage small and rural congregations through a process of transformational ministry whereby congregations respond through active, missional engagement. Ultimately, Hinton wants to spark renewed, creative thinking so that congregations are able to bear witness to Christ, connect with their communities, and experience fruitful ministry by working with local churches to plan workshops or retreats that benefit small and rural churches.
For more information contact: dawn@hintoncenter.org
