NCD Training Event on May 18, 2012, to focus on leadership and community

On May 18, 2012, Christian Schwarz, the founder and president of the Institute for Natural Church Development (NCD International), will be in the North Alabama Conference leading a workshop to introduce pastors, small group leaders, and NCD Coaches to the dynamic content of his two new books: The 3 Colors of Leadership and The 3 Colors of Community. Natural Church Development Coordinator (NCD) for the North Alabama Conference Rev. Nancy Cole says, “You will not want to miss this...

Gurley UMC Family Life Retreat great venue for discovering spiritual gifts

At a recent Family Retreat at Camp Sumatanga, Rev. Zach Seitz and the NCD Health Team at Gurley UMC led their church to a new level of fun and discovery of their Spiritual gifts. The health team had worked for months getting ready to help church members discover their Spiritual gifts during a workshop at the retreat led by Rev. Nancy Cole, NCD Coordinator for the Conference. The Three Colors of Ministry by Christian Schwarz was used by each participant for the gift analysis. Prior to the...

North Alabama Conference welcomes new NCD coaches

On March 27, 2010, the North Alabama Conference equipped six men and women with Coach Training in the ministry of Natural Church Development. Natural Church Development (NCD) is one of the North Alabama Conference priorities. Coaches are important to the NCD process for local churches. Rev. Lori Carden, Conference NCD Coordinator explained that while the training session was long and at times intense, the take away was tremendous. At the close of the training session participants were asked...

Alexandria UMC makes gains through NCD

In September 2005, the Rev. Dale Cohen, Director of Connectional Ministries for the North Alabama Conference, preached at Alexandria United Methodist Church. After worship, he introduced church leaders to Natural Church Development, a name and process new to the congregation. In the spring of 2006, the church completed its first survey and began work on the minimum factor it revealed. "In the beginning, Natural Church Development felt anything but natural," said Rev. Paula Calhoun,...

NCD helps Columbiana UMC reach its community through better need-based evangelism

Churches throughout North Alabama are participating in Natural Church Development as a way to grow in church health and in their mission to grow more disciples of Jesus Christ. Columbiana UMC in the South Central District is one North Alabama congregation celebrating success as the Natural Church Development process has helped them focus on ways to reach out to their community. The Natural Church Development (NCD) process begins with 30 members of the congregation taking a survey to determine...

A Calling to Coach

by Kipp McClurg NCD Coach Trainer, North Alabama Conference UMC For the past eighteen months, I have invested increasing amounts of time learning with others to be a Natural Church Development (NCD) Coach.  There is no significant pay-off, financially or politically, for me or the church where I am assigned.   Yet, I have chosen to give of myself to help other churches in this process.   Some of my coaching relationships have been rewarding, and some seem to be...

NCD sparks growth, excitement at Dadeville First

On Thursday, September 4, Rev. Dale Cohen made the trek to Dadeville UMC, at the request of the congregation, to evaluate their progress in Natural Church Development and advise them on next steps. “I first visited Dadeville in early 2006, when Roger Short invited me down to discuss how to get a vision for the church,” said Cohen, Director of Connectional Ministries for the conference. “At that time, we decided to do NCD. They took the survey, and I went down to share the...