Aviation ministry gets new wings and a prayer

United Methodists commission new medical mission plane for DRC

From May 12-20, 2013, supporters at several stops in the West Ohio Conference blessed and commissioned the new Wings of the Morning Cessna Caravan airplane. Wings of the Morning is an aviation ministry of the North Katanga Annual Conference in the Democratic Republic of the Congo that provides transportation for those in need of hospital care, who would otherwise travel many miles and days to reach the nearest clinic.Its pilot, Gaston Ntambo, was trained and educated in West Ohio 20 years ago, supported in large part by Epworth United Methodist Church in Toledo and other area United Methodists. United Methodists from across the global denomination raised over $2.1M in a two-year campaign.

Major Donors of the Caravan Campaign include:

  • Churches and people of the West Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church
  • Churches and people of the Greater New Jersey Conference of The United Methodist Church
  • Churches and people of the Arkansas Conference of The United Methodist Church
  • Churches and people of the North Katanga Conference of The United Methodist Church
  • General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church
  • United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, Leawood, Kansas

Learn more about Wings of the Morning.


Like what you're reading? Support the ministry of UM News! Your support ensures the latest denominational news, dynamic stories and informative articles will continue to connect our global community. Make a tax-deductible donation at ResourceUMC.org/GiveUMCom.

Sign up for our newsletter!

Subscribe Now
Bishops
Bishop Hans Växby, who served as a beloved leader in the Nordic and Baltic countries for 12 years before leading Eurasia for another seven, passed away on March 30 at age 80. Photo courtesy of the Council of Bishops.

Bishop Växby, post-Cold War leader, dies at 80

United Methodists remember Bishop Hans Växby as a servant leader who helped rebuild the church in Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine and Russia after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
Church Leadership
Participants sing during opening worship at the 2023 special session of the National Association of Korean American United Methodists at Korean First United Methodist Church in Wheeling, Ill., on Oct. 2. The Southeastern Jurisdiction has scheduled its first Asian American Ministers Gathering in May to bring clergy together for fellowship, resources and ministerial support. Pictured from left are Bishops Dottie Escobedo-Frank and Hee-Soo Jung, Dana Lyles and the Revs. MiRhang Baek, Prumeh Lee and Ju-Yeon Julie Jeon. File photo by the Rev. Thomas E. Kim, UM News.

Gathering aims to help Asian American clergy thrive

Southeastern Jurisdiction brings Asian American ministers together for fellowship, resources and ministerial support.
General Church
Six bishops lead the opening worship and communion service at Black Methodists for Church Renewal’s 58th General Meeting at Holman United Methodist Church in Los Angeles on March 19. From left are Bishops Cedrick Bridgeforth, Tracy S. Malone, Dottie Escobedo-Frank, Cynthia Moore-Koikoi, Julius C. Trimble and Kennetha J. Bigham-Tsai. The three-day meeting included an Ebony Bishops panel discussion on “The State of the Church,” reports on the Black College Fund and Africa University and information on the revised Social Principles and social entrepreneurship. Photo by John W. Coleman, UM News.

Black caucus finds hope in work ahead

During the 58th annual gathering of Black Methodists for Church Renewal, members were called to fight for justice and challenge systems of inequality.

United Methodist Communications is an agency of The United Methodist Church

©2025 United Methodist Communications. All Rights Reserved