HINTON CENTER RESOURCES

Building Stronger Communities of Faith

NURTURING FAITH AND SPIRITUAL LIFE

In the midst of mountain tranquility, we seek to help others connect with faith and find greater strength in their spiritual life. Through Hinton Center programs and events, we provide opportunities for churches, small groups, and individuals to learn and grow in faith. It is our greatest desire that, through this learning and growth, people will more deeply connect faith and life. Specifically, we hope that the faithful, spiritual life will be more fully intertwined with ordinary, daily life. Through the ministry of the Hinton Center, we offer on-site programs and events that cover a broad range of interests, topics, and matters of ministry and mission.

MISSION RESOURCES

BOOKS & ARTICLES WE RECOMMEND

– When Helping Hurts: Alleviating the Poverty Without Hurting the Poor and Ourselves by Brian FIkkert and Steve Corbett

– Ministry With the Poor at at Its Best: Ministry From the Margins by Mary Ellen Kris

– PlaySpent.org- Imagine you’re one of the 14 million Americans who live with little resources. “Play” a month of a person’s life living in poverty.

– An Introduction to Appalachia- This article is a good introduction to begin understanding the expansive culture of the Appalachian region.

– Justice & The Limits of Charity

–Being Poor Ain’t Cheap: This Appalachia Life

HINTON MISSION RESOURCES

2018 Summer Mission App

2018 Spring Break Mission App

2018 Fall Break Mission App

Hinton Center Fact Sheet: Why We Do What We Do

What to Pack for Hinton Center

Summer Missions Preparation Booklet 2017 — (Coming Soon: 2018 Version)

Here are the required forms for groups attending the summer missions program:

STRONGER CONGREGATIONS OF SMALL MEMBERSHIP

At Hinton, we believe that smaller congregations are actually the “right size” congregations and deserve leaders, who can help them claim God’s vision for their church. To this end, Hinton staff work with local congregations, cooperative ministries, districts, and annual conferences training laity and clergy to become more effective in their ministry.

Using creative leadership and adaptable resources, workshops and retreats are held at Hinton for small membership churches. Church leaders are able to gather in supportive ways to learn and gain new insight into ministry, and this time together provides both laity and clergy the opportunity for networking and fellowship.

Hinton hopes to inspire, empower, and strengthen faith communities through its ministry with small membership churches.

Dysart Chapel at Hinton Center

E-LEARNING

This resource page is available for you to access freely. You may use these resources with your congregation, district, or annual conference. If you have questions, please call Rev. Dawn Livingston at Hinton Center (828) 389-8336 or email dawn@hintoncenter.org.

Hinton Rural Life Center is the recognized leader in resources for smaller membership churches. We offer assistance for congregations that make a vital and measurable difference in the ministries of those churches. Among the services offered by Hinton Center are:

– Training and resources that are size- and setting-appropriate for congregations, cooperative ministries, districts, and annual conferences

– Workshops at your location tailored to your specific needs and schedule

– Consultations with local congregations and cooperative ministries

– Models of Ministry resources (See below for links)

– Training and networking events for pastors and for laity

– Guided programs in spiritual formation

Hinton Rural Life Center publishes Effective Ministry in the Smaller Membership Church, a guide with models and resources for congregations. We now offer this guide online for your use at no charge. Please click through the following links to find out what countless congregations, districts, and conferences have found to be invaluable.

  1. Contents
  2. Overview of the Smaller Membership Church
  3. Planning for Effective Ministry
  4. Financial Stewardship in the Small Membership Church
  5. Using the NOW Model for Effective Ministry in Smaller Congregations
  6. Cooperative Ministry
  7. Dynamics of the Small Membership Church
  8. Christian Education in the Small Membership Church
  9. Music in the Small Membership Church
  10. Spiritual Formation in the Local Church
  11. Pastor and Parishoner Health: Indicators for Effective Ministry
  12. If I Were the Pastor of a Small Membership Church
  13. Evangelism Information

To order this guide in printed version, please email your request to info@hintoncenter.org. Notebook copies are $20.00 each plus $6.00 shipping.

Practicing Vital Ministry in Small Congregations: When congregations are willing to become vulnerable to the prompting and leading of God, they can be guided and, ultimately, transformed by three questions.

First, who are we? A congregation must know itself well.

Second, who is our neighbor? A congregation must understand the surrounding community.

Third, what is our next step? A congregation must have a plan. These were originally used for a Vitality presentation in the Florida Conference.

  1. Who Are We?
  2. Who Is Our Neighbor?
  3. What Is Our Next Step?
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