Aulander, North Carolina is a small town located in rural Bertie County and home to approximately 1200 men, women and children. It is a diverse community living in the midst of profound poverty. Once an affluent farming community, this district now has high unemployment, crime in the streets, rampant drug addiction, and low test scores.
In 1997, the Rev. Laura G. Early accepted a challenge to reach out to the poverty-stricken families of Aulander. Programs and ministries to meet this challenge grew out of an old abandoned church, cleaned up and renamed All God’s Children UMC.In the early days, Early focused primarily on specific needs. She and a few exuberant volunteer-servants developed an after-school program which quickly grew into a children’s choir. A preschool followed, along with a drama team and youth service group. A weekly food and clothing distribution developed, along with a continuous elder-care ministry. A sports ministry called HOOPS brought youth off the streets.
Early remembers the beginning:
Each day I would go to the church early in the morning, because on many days, the parts of the facility that worked yesterday were no longer working today. It seemed a good metaphor for the community at large – there was so much brokenness and need in the physical building, in the impoverished community, and in the oppression of people’s spirits. But I knew that if we just continued to embrace God’s promise, that God wants everyone to reach their potential and then give him the glory in it, we would see the miraculous. We held on to Jeremiah’s claim that like Jacob, these children are loved and valued and have a great work to do for God – even in the midst of utter turmoil. Others saw it and were excited about what was going on.
As the programs and ministries grew, so did the children. Encouraged by Early, the staff, and the congregation, some children ventured out with newly-discovered spirits, seeking opportunity. Many grew into leaders in the church, taking active parts in all facets of the ministry – the music and youth ministries, Junior Senate, and leadership development.
The spirit of All God’s Children UMC drew attention throughout the NC Conference and beyond. Members John & Gladys Wyse heard of All God’s Children while living in Manteo. The couple had specifically chosen to retire in Manteo for its desirable location and hospitable accommodations. But they began to feel a restlessness of spirit.
It was during this time that they first visited All God’s Children UMC. It was all God needed. Initially, they were involved from a distance, however, it wasn’t long before they sold their retirement home in Manteo and moved to Aulander where they became deeply engaged in the ministry.
Gladys explains:
Jesus told us ‘take no thought for tomorrow.’ What good advice, even though it is not easy to do. Being involved at All God’s Children has been a life-changing experience for us! This is what church is about for us. Every day there is a reason to be thankful that God found us worthy of re-directing our carefully laid plans. There is an incredible caring spirit here which is reflected in daily activities. This is really a needy area, but something is being done about it. Our involvement has been truly the most fulfilling in our lives. We thank God for the changes in us, for the awesome love and acceptance we have felt here, from the church and community.
The challenge continues. The seed of hope has generated a vision for this Aulander community. The vision is a new facility, a place to expand the programs and ministries of All God’s Children under one roof – “The Place of Possibilities.”
Construction of the building will bring this community together in one place each day of the week for meals, food and clothing distribution, sporting events, Bible study, senior adults, classes in dance, gymnastics, martial arts, basketball, weight training, preschool and after-school care.
As Early notes:
When we are being available to the children and the community, consistency is incredibly important. With the accessibility and daily ministry the Place of Possibilities will bring, we can quadruple our ministry outreach. It will be a place that affirms what the children are good at, rather than making them into what we are good at. It will meet them where they are, which is always the place where Jesus meets us. It will be a place of excellence and of worship!
“The Place of Possibilities” is becoming a reality. Groundbreaking is only the beginning of a wondrous ministry of outreach. It is a proclamation of the love of Jesus for Aulander, a community that is a place of God’s endless possibilities.
For more information, call (252) 345-1077.
Donations can be sent to:
Place of Possibilities - UM Foundation All God’s Children United Methodist Church P.O. Box 69 Aulander NC 27805
"I knew that if we just continued to embrace God’s promise, that God wants everyone to reach their potential and then give him the glory in it, we would see the miraculous. We held on to Jeremiah’s claim that like Jacob, these children are loved and valued and have a great work to do for God – even in the midst of utter turmoil. Others saw it and were excited about what was going on.”
- Rev. Laura Early