Ben Hill Family: We will continue celebrating our current Clergy Team in the month of June. Please mark your calendar for the following Special Events.

ATT: Minister Brenda Bennefield, Ben Hill United Methodist Church, 2099 Fairburn Road, S.W. Atlanta, Georgia 30331 DO NOT SEND AFTER June 30, 2021.

We are appreciative of Reverend Tillman’s four years of tireless devotion and dedication to the Ben Hill United Methodist Church Family.

He has led us with preaching and teaching, as well as directing the Ben Hill Training Institute (BHTI), Baptism, New Disciples Ministry, Sunday School and Stephen Ministry. He has undoubtedly contributed greatly to the training and making of Disciples inside and outside the walls of Ben Hill.

He has also written a popular series of articles for Rethink Church (UM Communications) called “Racial Reconciliation: No Handholding Kumbaya” and has had other writings and sermons published, including one sermon titled “Breathe.” He has copyrighted his Racial Healing Framework that is used to dismantle racist systems, structures, policies, and practices in North Georgia, Western North Carolina, and Florida.

While we will miss him, we recognize the calling on his life and wish him a fond farewell as he leaves us to assume his appointment as Associate Director of Center for Excellence with emphasis on Black and Multi-Ethnic Church Development & Community Advocacy.

The Ben Hill United Methodist Church family wishes to thank Rev. Dr. Bryon E. Thomas for eight years of pastoral service to our church and community. Pastor Thomas' spiritual demeanor and proclamation of God’s Holy Word has touched many souls and warmed many hearts. His knowledge, preaching, and comparisons of biblical history to modern-day parallels cannot be replicated.

Due to a steadfast faith in God, Pastor Thomas has guided our congregation with calmness, compassion and courage. He has shared the importance of placing an emphasis on discipleship as opposed to membership. He has taught the Six Marks of Discipleship as foundational principles that support the vision and mission of the church. He encourages believers to participate in weekly worship, engage in daily Bible study, engage in daily prayer, serve others, give and develop spiritual friendships.

During the pandemic and under Pastor Thomas' spiritual guidance, the ministry efforts of Ben Hill UMC continued, including virtual Sunday Worship Services and Bible Study experiences, on-site COVID-19 testing and vaccinations, weekly food distribution, and financial assistance payments to members of the church and community. Pastor Thomas continued to lovingly serve our members by conducting lawn visits with the elderly and shut-in and praying for, comforting and servicing bereaved families during their time of need.

Pastor Thomas has led members, community partners and friends on several pilgrimages to the Holy Land. He has diligently served in various leadership capacities within the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church and the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference. The members of the North Georgia Conference Delegation endorsed Pastor Thomas as Episcopal Nominee at the 2020 Jurisdictional Conference (rescheduled for Nov. 2021). Additionally, Pastor Thomas has served as President of the North Georgia Black Methodists for Church Renewal (NGBMCR) and Coordinator for the Southeastern Jurisdiction-Black Methodists for Church Renewal (SEJBMCR).

We thank God for Pastor Thomas’ keen insight, steadfast leadership and heartfelt kindness. We wish Pastor and Mrs. Thomas abundant blessings, as he begins a new journey as the Superintendent of the Central South District of the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church. We will truly miss Pastor Thomas, Mrs. DuWanna Thomas and their wonderful family.

Do you have a favorite photo of one of our departing clergy members or their families? Submit your photo here for a special tribute to our clergy. Please submit your photo by June 26th, 2021. All photos can be submitted by clicking the link below.

THANK YOU Ben Hill! Your generosity helped Coins of Hope (COH) reach its $5,000 goal thus enabling a mission team of five professionals to undertake a community training program in Congo this July. The team will also take solar cookers and water disinfectants to Mpoyi, a rural community there. We are indebted to Mr. Samuel Dumas who built solar cooking prototypes which were successfully tested by the COH team in Atlanta, resulting in delicious food cooked with energy from the sun. This type of cooking replaces cooking by the open fire and is free from harmful smoke and carcinogens which affect the health of many women in the village.

Your donations will enable a few families the opportunity for their children to attend school this academic year by helping with school uniforms. Additionally, you helped with repairs of the guesthouse, pavement of the floor, construction of an outdoor kitchen, and construction of toilets and showers. It is not too late to make an even greater impact as there are additional needs for bedding, sheets, blankets, furniture, and cooking utensils. Your sacrificial donations to Ben Hill for Coins of Hope can still be accepted online or by check. If you have questions, contact T. L. Mukenge at 404-767-2028, [email protected].

Complete the interest form 

 Take the spiritual gifts assessment if you have not taken any type of spiritual gifts assessment in the last 3 years, or if you do not know your spiritual gifts.

The Food Bank is in URGENT need of canned goods and plastic bag donations.

Ministries should bring the food items to the Food Bank Drive-Up on Wed. (10:30am-12:30pm) or Saturday (10:30am-12:30pm). Donating is simple: 1) Place the food in the trunk of your car.  2) When you arrive, call the Food Bank at (404) 344-0618 X 1115 or (404) 314-2241, and someone will meet you to take the food from your car. All donations are touchless--keeping our donors and volunteers safe.

Make your contribution at benhillumc.org/giving. Click "Food Bank" under the Select a Fund options.

The Prison Ministry would like to send cards, words of encouragement, to those who are currently incarcerated. Perhaps you have a loved one or know of someone who would appreciate receiving a card. The Prison Ministry offers a safe nonjudgmental space to seek prayers and support. Please contact Gloria Parker, [email protected] or Cynthia Holland at [email protected] with the name and mailing information of your loved one.

The Prayer Ministry will host Corporate Prayer every Wednesday from 6:15 pm - 6:45 pm. Weekly Corporate Prayer will feature a prayer of thanksgiving, a reading from the Upper Room Daily Devotional, and intercessory prayer. We will be inviting Clergy and Laity to pray the intercessory prayer. 

To attend Corporate Prayer, please call: (712) 770- 4936, Access Code: 627746. When calling in, please mute your cell phones. If you call in on a landline please turn the volume down on televisions, radios, etc. We look forward to everyone calling in and praying together. To submit Prayer Requests, please visit: benhillumc.org.

During this season, we want to remind you of the benefits of Stephen Ministry. Stephen Ministry is a collection of specially trained lay people who are trained to listen and provide Christian care for people during the most challenging parts of their lives. It is confidential, one on one, and gender specific. Stephen Ministers are assigned to an individual for about an hour a week. This is especially meaningful for individuals who may be alone during the pandemic, who are grieving, who have a challenging health diagnosis, and who are finding it hard to deal with the challenges in their life.

Tonye Daneen Durr (M)  on the loss of her father

FEMA will begin accepting applications for Funeral Assistance on Monday, April 12, 2021 through our dedicated call center. More information will be available on their page soon.

Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms launched the City of Atlanta Senior Food Assistance Program to support seniors with food insecurity during COVID-19 by partnering with meal and grocery delivery organizations. Seniors who reside in the City of Atlanta and are struggling to receive access to food during this time may apply to be a part of this program by completing this survey found here. You may also contact ATL311 for information or help with filling out the survey by dialing 311 within the city limits or (404) 546-0311.

The Pfizer vaccine will be available for ages 12 and up on July 10, and July 31. The J&J vaccine will also be available (ages 18 and up) for those who only want 1 shot. Neither an identification card nor proof of medical insurance is required to receive a COVID-19 vaccine at a CORE mobile site, and all vaccines are free of charge.

New! Tune into the sermon by using Sermon by Phone.

The Sunday service will be made available at 9:15am on Sundays by dialing in at: