Community-involved pastor to leave Americus

Local News

June 14, 2008

Michael J. Ross

AMERICUS — The Rev. Jim McIlrath of First United Methodist Church will preach his last sermon at the church today. He will soon become the pastor at Christ United Methodist Church in Warner Robins.

McIlrath has been in Americus for the last five years. He has been in the South Georgia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church since 1981.

McIlrath said he is going to miss the people of Sumter County, even though he plans to maintain friendships. He said his relationship with Habitat for Humanity grew even stronger when he moved to Americus.

He said he took a proactive role in the reconciliation of Habitat and its founder, Millard Fuller, after they parted ways. McIlrath considers the Fullers to be very close friends.

He is also now a strong supporter of The Fuller Center for Housing, and he will look into starting an affiliate in Warner Robins. He said the Sumter County community has grown so much closer over the last five years, breaking down the walls even more of racial, religious and economic divisions.

McIlrath has been involved in many community organizations since he has been here like Sumter Area Ministerial Association (SAMA), Sumter Mentor Program and Sumter Disaster Recovery (SDR).

He said it was a blessing to have had SDR headquarted at his church in the weeks and months after the 2007 tornado. McIlrath said he is very familiar with the Warner Robins area and he’s amazed how it has grown over the last 20 years.