Rev. Nelson Furtado is a native of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he grew up, met his wife, and received his call to ministry. Before answering his call to ministry Rev. Furtado was an attorney and practiced law in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo.

Rev. Furtado is a Candler School of Theology graduate with a Master’s in Divinity. He is pursuing his Doctorate in Ministry through Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington – DC.

Nelson is passionate about discipleship and helping people to use their unique God-given gifts. He also champions diversity in the local church and best practices for churches seeking to reflect the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. Nelson has been heavily involved in training and cohorts focusing on church revitalization, multiethnic ministries, and church and community engagement.

Rev. Furtado currently serves on the board of the Hispanic-Latino committee and at the Standing Rules Committee of the North Georgia Annual Conference.

Nelson loves meeting new people, playing the acoustic guitar, practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and cooking Brazilian barbecue, which is the best barbecue in the world!

Nelson and his wife, Michelly Furtado, have been married for nine years. Michelly is a Portuguese and Literature teacher specializing in psychopedagogy and special needs education. Nelson and Michelly have a seven-year-old daughter named Sophia.

Cora has worked as an Administrative/Office Assistant for the last 20 years with organizations such as Clayton State University, Morrow and Community Gardens of Henry County, McDonough. 

Her family church is Bethel UMC in Stockbridge.Ga.

Cora is a member of Turning Point Church in McDonough where she serves on the Dream Team, Hospitality Team, Events Team and as the DT Training and Development Point Leader.  As a small group leader at TPC, Cora teaches Tech Assist,a computer and technology class focusing on MS Office, Google Drive, and overcoming the fear of technology.  Cora loves in her spare time to read sci-fi and fantasy novels and tutor people who need computer or social media assistance.

Brett comes to Morrow First UMC with 10years of music directing experience. He holds a degree in church music from Truett-McConnell College. He began singing at an early age in a children’s choir. His love for music grew throughout his high school years as he participated in the high school band and his home church’s sanctuary choir. Brett strives to bring choral excellence to any choir he has the privilege of directing.

Outside of music, some of Brett’s hobbies include hiking, traveling, sports, and anything that allows him to spend time with family and friends.

Tracy Holland has served as part-time custodian at Morrow First United Methodist Church for over 20 years. He served for four years from 1988-1992 and for 15 years from 1998-2013. He returned in January 2015 as part-time custodian at MFUMC.

He has been a full-time custodian for both Clayton County Public Schools and the Henry County Board of Education since 1983. Currently, he is at Arnold Elementary School in Clayton County where he has been Custodian for two years.

Tracy is active in his church and enjoys his hobbies, which include football, basketball, bowling, and pool.

Tracy and his wife Susan reside in Jonesboro, Ga. He is a member of Three Point Bible Church in Jonesboro, Ga.

Jamie Bales and her assistants prepare and serve a variety of meals for Wednesday Night Fellowship Hour and for other special meetings held at the church.

Morrow First United Methodist Church’s story began in 1865, immediately after the Civil War, with a simple brush arbor on Radford E. Morrow’s land. By 1870, the growing congregation, then known as William’s Chapel, established a permanent church building, thanks to a land donation and lumber provided by Radford E. Morrow. The church expanded over the years, relocating to a larger building in 1881. In 1935 Morrow Methodist Church was constructed on Old Rex-Morrow Road, Morrow, GA. The congregation continued to grow, leading to the construction of a new sanctuary, at the current location, in 1967 and its renaming as Morrow United Methodist Church in 1968, following a merger. The church has consistently demonstrated its commitment to both spiritual growth and community service.

Through the decades, Morrow First United Methodist Church has focused on enhancing its facilities and deepening its community impact. Significant milestones include the dedication of a fellowship hall in 1969, the construction of a Church School Building in 1973, and various renovations and additions throughout the 1980s and 1990s. The church has also emphasized memorializing its members, with dedicated spaces like the Patsy Hoenes Learning Center and the establishment of the Mary Alice Boyd Memorial scholarship. In recent years, the church has modernized its facilities with a digital sign and a labyrinth, and initiated a mission ministry to Kenya. From its humble beginnings to its current vibrant presence, Morrow First United Methodist Church has remained a steadfast pillar of faith and service in the Morrow community, celebrating over 160 years of history.