Faith Stories

General Church
The Rev. Moses Kumar, top executive of the United Methodist General Council on Finance and Administration, speaks on April 24, 2024, at the United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C. Kumar is retiring at the end of March after more than 17 years as head of the denomination’s finance agency. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UM News.

Kumar looks back on helming finance agency

The Rev. Moses Kumar, retiring after 17 years, shepherded the denomination’s finances during a tumultuous time.
Faith Stories
Two important moments in Raquel Martínez’s ministerial life: at right, the launch of the “Mil Voces Para Celebrar” hymnal in 1996, and at left, the celebration of its 25th anniversary in 2021. Photos courtesy of the Martínez family; photo composition by the Rev. Gustavo Vásquez, UM News.

Raquel Martínez embodies legacy of immigrant women on worship

Her accomplishments, including editing the Spanish United Methodist Hymnal, reflect the vital contributions of Latinas, immigrants to church music, education and mission.
Faith Stories
The Rev. Colleen Bookter, a United Methodist, dances in New Orleans Mardi Gras parades as a member of the dance krewe Sassyracs. “There is nothing like hundreds of thousands of people in the crowd cheering you on and dancing along with you,” she said. Photo by Nkechi Chibueze, courtesy of Bookter.

Pastor dances with joy in Mardi Gras parades

The Rev. Colleen Bookter, a United Methodist pastor, annually marches in New Orleans parades as part of Fat Tuesday festivities. It’s “a chance to be silly and sassy and celebrate community.”
Faith Stories
Athletes with Alaska Pacific University’s Nordic Ski Center practice cross-country skiing ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. The United Methodist-related university in Anchorage, Alaska, has a tradition of sending cross-country skiers to the Olympics going back to 1972. Photo courtesy of APU Nordic Ski Center.

United Methodist school brings Olympic glory

Alaska Pacific University, a small college with strong United Methodist ties, is sending nine cross-country skiers to the 2026 Winter Games. The university also has a commitment to Alaska Native students.

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