Rural Communities in Transition Initiative        

Clover Garden UMC

“Clover Garden UMC is a rural church of eighty-one full members, fifteen preparatory members, and twenty-two constituents.  There has been a worshipping community either on or near to the current site in western Orange County for over one hundred and fifty years.  Most of the families in the congregation have roots in farming and some of the families in the congregation extend back in membership to three or four generations.

       Self-determined as the “Little Church with the Big Heart”, Clover Garden has a rich tradition of hospitality.  Even in these fast-paced times, the congregation maintains many of the country traditions of hospitality such as abundant covered dish dinners and giving care by providing food to those who have had a death in the family, an illness, or a family crisis.  The congregation also sends cards—signed by all members of the congregation—to anyone who is lifted up during the weekly Sunday School assembly as a person in need.  The recipient need not be local nor even need be Christian.  Clover Garden’s message of care is extended to all who suffer.

       One of the challenges for the congregation has been to reach out in mission beyond the immediate community.  Responding faithfully to the nudging of the Holy Spirit, the members of Clover Garden have now collected thirty-seven school kits for ZOE Ministry, raised $1000 for the Heifer Project, given $500 to Plowpoint Ministries, and donated goods to MERCI.  This “Little Church with the Big Heart” has prayed for missionaries in Bolivia and Nepal, and hosted Dr. James Womble to give a special presentation during worship on ZOE Ministry.

In 2006, this “Little Church with the Big Heart” stepped up to a Spirit-led challenge brought by the Rev. Nick Jeffries, former Duke intern and current member of the congregation.  Rev. Jeffries led the church’s Men’s Club in raising money through a Spaghetti Lunch to participate in the Apostles’ Build project with Habitat for Humanity.  Apostles’ Build allows smaller membership churches, who typically cannot fund a solo effort, to participate in cooperative Habitat project.  To date, Clover Garden has contributed $2000 and two days of construction work on a Habitat project north of Hillsborough.  If you visit the Apostles’ Build site, you will see on the sign Clover Garden UMC’s name listed along with churches two to three to ten times its size.    

Clover Garden is the embodiment of the Apostle Paul’s affirmation of Philippians 4: 12 – 13, “I know what it is to have little and I know what it is to have plenty.  In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need.  I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”  Thanks be to God.