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United Methodists close 20 churches in Alabama: where are they?

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United Methodists close 20 churches in Alabama: where are they?


United Methodists on Friday voted to close 20 churches in North Alabama, including a church founded in Hoover in 1993 with a 15-acre campus next to Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.

Discovery United Methodist Church, with a 350-seat sanctuary, had grown to 600 members by 2003. The church held its closing service on Easter Sunday, April 20, after years of declining attendance.

The conference has a plan to turn the Discovery campus over to Trinity United Methodist Church in Homewood to possibly reopen next year as a third location of Trinity, which has its main campus on Oxmoor Road and another in West Homewood.

“We want to be part of planning something new, but we want it to be about a redemption story,” said the Rev. Brian Erickson, senior pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church. “A lot of conferences would have just taken that property, sold it and put the money in the bank. I’m so grateful to the conference they want to invest in the kingdom instead. They’re gifting us the property.”

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Trinity, which is celebrating its centennial next year, plans to re-launch the campus as the Trinity campus in Hoover by August 2026, Erickson said.

“We’re trying not to get caught in a narrative that we can’t move forward, in places in which there are opportunities for United Methodist presence to be,” said Bishop Jonathan Holston, who oversees all United Methodist churches in Alabama. “That’s what we’re trying to do, is find those places where God has called us to go.”

More than half of all United Methodist churches in Alabama disaffiliated over the past several years, leaving the denomination in a schism. Most negotiated to buy their property and take it with them, although some left empty churches behind. Money paid to the conference by departing churches went into a reserve fund, which the conference is drawing on to make it through current budget deficits.

“We’re still processing all of that, to see where we are,” Bishop Holston said.

Closing declining churches is sometimes necessary, he said.

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“It’s always a solemn moment when we think about the mission and ministry of those congregations we are closing,” Bishop Holston said. “They were part of our community.”

The other United Methodist churches announced as closing include:

Jubilee Church in Alexander City

Oak Grove Church in Childersburg

Rehobeth Church in Vincent

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Trinity Church at 400 East St. in Talladega

Christ Central Church in Rainbow City

Langston Church near Lake Guntersville in Jackson County

Mt. Oak Church in Marshall County

Tucker’s Chapel in Boaz

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Courtland Church in Lawrence County

Hollywood Church in Jackson County

Isom’s Chapel in Athens

Moulton First Church in Lawrence County

The Table, which started in 2015 as a house church in Huntsville

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Cahaba Church at 3580 Cahaba Valley Road in Jefferson County

Cottondale Church in Tuscaloosa County

Restoration Mission, 631 3rd St. West in Birmingham

Walker Chapel on Walker Chapel Road in Fultondale

Wesley Chapel in Ralph in Tuscaloosa County

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Woodstock Church in Bibb County

Erickson noted that Trinity was once a failed church in Birmingham’s Lakeview neighborhood, before it relocated to Homewood in 1926. The 3,600-member Trinity Church is now one of the largest United Methodist congregations in North Alabama with several thousand members.

“We were a failed church,” Erickson said. “The conference took the proceeds from that building in 1926 that they sold to make the fire station that became Bogue’s and is now Taj India. They set aside that money for a new church in 1926 in Homewood.”

Discovery’s failure was surprising, after a promising start that coincided with Michael Jordan playing baseball for the Birmingham Barons at the Hoover Met in 1994 at the hub of the Trace Crossings subdivision that has more than 1,200 houses.

“It’s really baffling,” Erickson said. “Every church has a life cycle. The lives that were shaped and changed and made better by Discovery, those continue. That legacy will never go away.”

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Discovery United Methodist Church in Hoover opened in 1993 in the Trace Crossings subdivision. The North Alabama Conference voted to close it on May 30, 2025, after its final service was held on Easter Sunday. (Photo by Greg Garrison/AL.com)ggarrison@al.com



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What is Alabama’s best burger? Foodie picks this local favorite

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What is Alabama’s best burger? Foodie picks this local favorite


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Every year, Americans devour an estimated 50 million burgers, a sizzling testament to the nation’s enduring passion for beef, buns and bold toppings.

From roadside diners to upscale gastropubs, the hamburger has become a culinary symbol, with each state offering its own unique twist.

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The team at Foodie has taken on the delicious challenge of finding the very best burger in every state. By combing through hundreds of customer reviews, spotlighting local award winners and even digging into regional news coverage, they’ve crafted a list that celebrates standout spots from coast to coast. 

And when it comes to Alabama, one burger rises above the rest.

What is the best burger in Alabama?

In Alabama, Vicki’s Lunch Van in Montgomery claims the top spot.

What sets it apart? According to Foodie, the small, no-frills spot is “darn-near flawless,” known for freshly made cheeseburgers that taste exactly how a classic burger should.

If there’s one dish that defines the experience, it’s the Gunter Pile. This decadent creation layers a juicy burger patty with gravy and a mixture of fried and crispy onions, all atop a bed of fries. It’s messy, indulgent and distinctly Southern.

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How to grab your burger at Vicki’s Lunch Van

If you want to try Vicki’s Lunch Van, note that this Montgomery favorite typically operates during limited lunch hours. Vicki’s is located at 106 Coliseum Blvd. 

A lasting legacy

According to posts shared on Facebook, the restaurant’s owner, Vicki Lammon, passed away in February 2026.

The news brought an outpouring of support and memories from devoted customers. Many spoke not just of the quality of the food, but also of the welcoming atmosphere and personal touch that made the place special.

Jennifer Lindahl is a Breaking and Trending Reporter in Alabama for USA TODAY’s Deep South Connect Team. Connect with her on X @jenn_lindahl and email at jlindahl@usatodayco.com.



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No. 16 Alabama Slugs Its Way To Series-Opening Win Over No. 11 Oklahoma

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No. 16 Alabama Slugs Its Way To Series-Opening Win Over No. 11 Oklahoma


The tone was set on the first pitch of the game.

Bryce Fowler sent a no-doubter over the left field wall, the first of four home runs that No. 16 Alabama would hit in the first two innings, as the Crimson Tide slugged its way to a 10-7 over No. 11 Oklahoma in the series opener.

Justin Lebron flew out immediately after Fowler’s leadoff blast, but Brady Neal then nearly went yard himself. The ball was about an inch from clearing the wall, and instead bounced off it for a triple. Neal would come in to score off a two-out John Lemm single, giving Alabama a 2-0 lead after the opening frame.

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The Sooners would get one back in the bottom of the inning, but Alabama flipped the game upside down in the second. Justin Osterhouse and Brennan Holt were plunked, bringing Fowler back up with two on and one out. Fowler then demolished a ball to right field for the first multi-home run game of his career.

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“He’s just a tough competitor, man. That’s Bryce Fowler in a nutshell,” head coach Rob Vaughn said. “The bigger the moment, the better he is. Not only the swings last weekend, but the defense in center last weekend, and then the unbelievable at-bats really set the tone today.”

Justin Lebron then drew a five-pitch walk and, per usual, stole second. He came about as close as he has all season to getting thrown out, but slid in safely for his 24th stolen base of the season, most in the SEC by a significant margin. The shortstop then came home on a single from Neal, which marked the end of starter LJ Mercurius’ evening.

Mercurius’ season ERA rose from 3.53 to 5.11 as Alabama scored seven off him. He was replaced by his brother, Xander, who did not fare much better in that second, as Jason Torres took his first pitch of the day deep, extending Alabama’s lead to seven runs.

After Lemm recorded another hit, Osterhouse added the exclamation point with the third home run of the inning. As Oklahoma finally left the field after a Luke Vaughn groundout, Alabama held a 10-1 lead.

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Tyler Fay settled in on the mound for Alabama, putting together 1-2-3 frames in the second, third and fourth innings. On the flip side, Xander Mercurius put together a very impressive relief appearance, giving up just one more hit and keeping Alabama off the board for the rest of his night as the freshman worked into the eighth.

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The Sooners added three runs in the fifth off a pair of home runs, but that was all the offense to speak of. Fay ended up going 6.0 innings, allowing seven hits and four runs in a performance that, while obviously not at the level of his last two dominant outings, was more than enough given the run support.

Oklahoma put three more on the board in the ninth, forcing reliever Sam Mitchell out of the game after a leadoff home run and then a two-out, two-RBI triple that cut the deficit to three. Oklahoma had the tying run on deck, but Matthew Heiberger came in and recorded a strikeout to end the game and give Alabama the opener.

Alabama will play for the series win earlier than expected, as Saturday’s game was moved up from 6:30 to 1 p.m. CT due to expected inclement weather. The contest will air on SEC Network+.

Sign up to our free newsletter and follow us on Twitter/X, FacebookYouTubeInstagramThreads and Blue Sky for the latest news.

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Explosive Kentucky wide receiver earns Alabama offer, locks in official visit

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Explosive Kentucky wide receiver earns Alabama offer, locks in official visit




Cam Wade earned an Alabama football offer earlier this week and locked in a return visit date for an official.

Wade is a 2027 recruit, and he attends Paducah Tilghman High School in Paducah, Kentucky. Alabama is the latest program to offer the junior, but he holds previous offers from Florida, Georgia Tech, Florida State, Maryland and others.

The Kentucky product said earning an Alabama offer means a lot to him.

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“As a kid growing up watching college football, you always dreamed about Alabama,” Wade said. “Just a wonderful experience, and I’m grateful.”

Wade was on campus for a visit when he earned his offer from the Tide, and the visit was a success.

“You can feel the intensity as soon as you walk in the door,” Wade told Touchdown Alabama. “I loved that, also how close the coaching staff was with each other was also great.”

Alabama will get Wade on campus on the weekend of May 29-31 for his official visit.

Wade is an explosive wide receiver with proven speed. He holds a PR of 10.6 in the 100-meter dash and a 21.6 in the 200-meter dash. This speed translates over to the field, and it makes him dangerous in different aspects of the game.

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Watch Cam Wade’s Highlights Below:







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