Community Invited to Hinton Anniversary Celebration

Hinton Rural Life Center is celebrating 60 years of ministry on Saturday, Sept. 25, beginning with worship at First United Methodist Church in Hayesville, and the community is invited. The service will be 11:00am to 12:15pm in the sanctuary, with masks required. During the service, worshippers will reflect on Hinton’s blessings of "Roots & Fruits" and give thanks through music, prayer, Word, videos, and story sharing. Bishop Ken Carter of the Florida and Western NC conferences of The United Methodist Church will be the guest preacher. Smoky Mountain District Superintendent Rev. Jae Lee will also participate in the service.

After worship, all are invited to bring a picnic lunch to Hinton’s Lakeside Pavilion and enjoy fellowship and beautiful views of Lake Chatuge and the mountains. The dock will be open for swimming, canoes, and kayaks, for those who would like to bring them.

“We have been so blessed over the years by our community,” said Rev. Karen Kluever, Hinton’s minister of church relations. “Our neighbors in Clay, Cherokee, and Towns counties have faithfully supported Hinton’s work  in the community for six decades through their volunteering and financial support. That’s why we want to invite everyone to celebrate this significant milestone with us.”

For sixty years, Hinton Center has served the regional community through a variety of mission outreach initiatives, including home repair, firewood, and garden ministries. As an nonprofit agency of the Southeastern Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church, Hinton Center has also offered a retreat ministry for individuals and groups who need a place to retreat, reflect, and renew. Hinton has also been recognized for its support, equipping, and resourcing of rural United Methodist churches, helping them to become more impactful in their ministry settings. More recently, following a 2016 Quality of Life study, Hinton has focused on developing leadership programs for adults and young people who want to help build their community become a more thriving one, with opportunities for all.

Originally from Columbus, Georgia, guest preacher Bishop Ken Carter has served clergy appointments in the Western North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist, prior to his appointment as presiding bishop of the Florida Conference. He now also serves as bishop to the Western North Carolina Conference. In the past, Carter has served on Hinton’s Board of Directors. His daughter, Abby Carter Stanton, also served on Hinton’s summer staff as a young adult.