ABOUT
At Liberty Hill, we believe all people are beloved children of God, and that all people are inherently worthy of belonging, love, dignity, and respect. You can read more about our denomination’s beliefs on human sexuality and affirmation of the LGBTQ community here.
OUR STORY
Liberty Hill was founded in 2003 out of Hillside UMC in Woodstock to be a missional church to the Canton community. Though our physical home has changed many times, our home has always been Canton. From the very beginning, Liberty Hill has strived to be an authentic witness for Jesus through serving the community, having authentic and Spirit-led worship, and being relatable to all people. This witness helped start many local missions in our community that continue to serve God’s people.
In 2010, Liberty Hill moved into our first space in the historic Canton mill building. Since then our physical space within the mill building has changed greatly, but our heart for bringing Jesus to Canton remains the same! We are joyful to be in our new space on the 2nd floor of The Mill on Etowah where we have room to grow at the center of this rapidly growing community.
OUR STAFF
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 that call, he worked as an attorney, practicing law in both Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. He is a graduate of Candler School of Theology with a Master of Divinity and Wesley Theological Seminary with a Doctor of Ministry. Nelson is deeply passionate about discipleship and equipping people to use their unique God-given gifts. He focuses his ministry on helping congregations embody the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. His ministry experience includes training and leading cohorts in church revitalization, multicultural ministries, and church-community engagement.
Rev. Furtado serves on the Connectional Ministries Team, the Standing Rules Committee of the North Georgia Annual Conference, and on the North Georgia Camp & Retreat Ministries Board of Directors. Outside of ministry, Nelson enjoys meeting new people, playing the acoustic guitar, practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and cooking Brazilian BBQ—his personal claim for the best barbecue in the world!
Nelson and his wife, Michelly, have been married for eleven years. Michelly is a Portuguese and Literature teacher with a specialization in psychopedagogy and special needs education. Together, they are the proud parents of two daughters, Sophia and Olivia
Jordan is the Worship Leader at Liberty Hill UMC. Originally from Key West, Florida, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Songwriting from Belmont University in Nashville and a Master of Divinity from Emory University in Atlanta. Jordan’s vocational background includes event management, campus ministry, worship ministry, and community engagement. She currently works for Candler’s School of Theology where she supports graduate students in their non-profit and ministry internships. When she’s not at Candler or Liberty Hill, you can find her playing her original music at local venues, going on a run, getting Jeni’s icecream with her family, or taking her rescue dog on coffee dates.
Emily is a Cherokee County native who grew up in Woodstock and now resides in Canton with her husband, David, and their four boys. She began her journey with Timbers as a wedding coordinator and has since transitioned into the role of venue manager. Before joining Timbers, Emily served as the office administrator for a successful property management firm, where she refined her ability to anticipate client needs and deliver tailored solutions. She thrives on providing exceptional customer service to every client. When she’s not at Timbers or busy with her boys, Emily enjoys pursuing her hobbies, including pottery, antiquing, and photography.
Sarah Kay
Nursery Leader
Sara is a Cherokee County native who brings years of experience in early childhood education and a heart for helping little ones grow in God’s love. She currently serves as director of Kids Club at Timbers, where she creates a Christ-centered, nurturing environment for children and families. When she’s not caring for kids, Sara enjoys exploring parks and spending time outdoors with her two sons, Lucas and Aaron.
OUR CORE VALUES
As a community, we strive to make these values our top priority:
Missional
We work together to share God’s love.
(Matthew 28:16-20)
Inclusive
We welcome ALL who are seeking.
(Galatians 3:26-28)
Connected
We embrace each other, where we are, to strengthen our community
(1 Corinthians 12:12-14)
Compassionate
We are called by God to show mercy and love to all.
(Matthew 9:35-38)
Committed
We are fully devoted to God’s calling for us individually and as Liberty Hill United Methodist Church.
(Romans 12:1-2)