In many ways, the city of Lawrenceville and Lawrenceville First United Methodist Church have grown and developed together, as the city was incorporated in 1821 (making it the second-oldest municipality in metro Atlanta) and the church was established just two years later.
As the church celebrates its 200th anniversary this year, Senior Pastor Adam Hilderbrandt is adamant that the city and the church continue their centuries-long connection through an initiative known as “Lawrenceville First.”
“Through COVID, every church had to figure out what involvement and engagement looked like,” said Hilderbrandt, who has served as pastor for five years. “COVID really forced us to think about what we do and why we do it, so when I started here, I started using the phrase ‘Lawrenceville First;’ we’re going to put Lawrenceville first and really serve this community well. And in COVID we really got to live that out.”
Lawrenceville First UMC has offered a helping hand to a number of entities in the community, including homeless shelters, food cooperatives and the schools in the Central Gwinnett Cluster.
“We started talking about the reality of connecting the church to the community and the community to the church, and really just being engaged and involved in what’s happening in our community and not waiting for folks to come to us, but being willing to go and serve and love people,” said Hilderbrandt. “That’s lived itself out in a lot of ways, specifically around some of our ministry partners.”
The church, which was founded in February 1823 by the Rev. William Justice Parks, is focusing on its anniversary this month, with special services each week. On the first Sunday of February, a confirmation celebration was held, and on the second Sunday of the month, Lawrenceville FUMC’s community partners were invited to speak…
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