Gil Hanke (left) presents award to Herman Lightsey

NASHVILLE, Tenn.––Dan Ramsey, president of the National Association of Conference Presidents of UM Men, and Gil Hanke, top staff executive of the General Commission on UM Men, presented a plaque honoring UM Men of South Carolina as the top annual conference unit of UM Men in the nation.

Herman Lightsey, president of the conference UM Men, received the award during a March 5-8 meeting of leaders of UM Men.

UM Men of South Carolina Annual Conference host an annual retreat that traditionally brings about 500 men, but with a huge leap of faith, in 2015, the men moved to Christ UMC, a church that formerly housed the Gatlin Brothers Theater. More than 800 people attended that life-changing event.

The conference also sponsors teaching churches that share ideas about expanding ministries to men.