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Tennessee Annual Conference

Faith Stories
The Rev. Tim Holton, a United Methodist pastor, visits family graves at the Simpson Cemetery in Eagleville, Tenn. In 1997, his cousin, Daryl Holton, killed his four children with a military-style rifle and was eventually executed in Tennessee’s electric chair. He is buried beneath the light-colored headstone at left, next to the graves of his children. Tim Holton now serves on the board of Tennesseans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty and ministers to death row inmates as a volunteer chaplain at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville, Tenn. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Pastor’s life shaped by family murders

The Rev. Tim Holton has spent more time than most thinking about the death penalty. He’s against it despite — or perhaps because of — the horrific murder of four Holton children in 1997 by his cousin.
Faith Stories
Sally Ball and Paul Morgan are married at Magnolia Avenue United Methodist Church in Knoxville, Tenn., on Dec. 30, 2023. Photo by Tim Jackson, courtesy of the Holston Conference.

When Paul met Sally: Volunteers find love

Paul Morgan met Sally Ball amid the dusty archives at Magnolia Avenue United Methodist Church in Knoxville, Tenn. Almost two years later, after showing up from separate churches to help get the 100-year-old building back on its feet, the two were married in Magnolia Avenue’s sanctuary.
Mission and Ministry
The Rev. Bryan Brooks (center), senior pastor of Franklin First United Methodist Church, prepares for Holy Communion at the close of “Building Community with Older Adults,” a workshop hosted by ENCORE Ministry Oct. 26 at the church in Franklin, Tenn. The event was hosted in partnership with the University of Tennessee Chattanooga’s School of Nursing. Photo by Vernon Jordan, UM News.

Engaging in ministry with older adults

Workshop brings together speakers on a wide variety of topics to resource those in older adult ministry and older adults themselves — from health tips to handling legal issues like changing a will.
Social Concerns
St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church in Memphis, Tenn., is responding to the needs of their community through food distributions, emergency housing, and more. Photo courtesy of Pastor Kimberlynn Alexa

Church responds to homelessness epidemic

When St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church in Memphis decided to create an emergency housing ministry, it connected with church and community partners to fill in the gaps.

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