Daily Digest - August 17, 2020

“I never trust people who say they are Christians but are sour. John was just the opposite. John’s joyful spirit would enable us to see the trust he had in the Lord.”The Rev. Tom Berlin, on the death of Sierra Leone Bishop John K. Yambasu.


NEWS AND FEATURES

Sierra Leone bishop dead at 63

FREETOWN, Sierra Leone (UM News) — Sierra Leone Area Bishop John K. Yambasu was remembered in The United Methodist Church for his leadership seeking unity and compromise and in his own country for his response to Ebola, a deadly landslide and COVID-19. Yambasu, 63, died Aug. 16 in a car accident. Kathy L. Gilbert reports with contributions from around the connection. 
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Read Council of Bishops press release

Churches step up to help salvage school year
SAVANNAH, Ga. (UM News) — United Methodist congregations are using creativity and faith to help students, parents and teachers when there are no clear solutions to the dangers of COVID-19. Heather Hahn reports on some examples. 
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Holston Conference
A lifetime of crossing racial bridges

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. — The Rev. Walter Willis, now 89, came to East Tennessee in 1971 as Holston Conference’s first cross-racial appointment. He was a Black pastor serving a white church just three years after The United Methodist Church formally ended segregation. Annette Spence has his story. 
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Gainesville Times
Pastor uses comic strip to combine faith, humor

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Rev. Mike Morgan, who will lead First United Methodist Church come September, was a cartoonist before he was a pastor. “For Heaven’s Sake!” — the syndicated comic strip he has created since 1991 — allows him to do both. Kelsey Podo reports.
Read story
 

PRESS RELEASES

United Methodist Men
6 bishops to lead National Day of Prayer

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Six bishops and eight United Methodist leaders will provide meditations and prayers for racial justice and the COVID-19 pandemic during an Aug. 22 National Day of Prayer, sponsored by the South Central Jurisdiction United Methodist Men. This is the fifth National Day of Prayer sponsored by leaders of United Methodist Men in each of the five U.S. jurisdictions. 
Read press release


RESOURCES

World Council of Churches
Helping churches show solidarity for Korean peace

GENEVA — A new collection of resources from the World Council of Churches, “The Light of Peace: Churches in Solidarity with the Korean Peninsula,” is designed to help churches recognize 70 years of unresolved conflict on the Korean Peninsula during 2020. The content is drawn from a variety of contributors.
Read press release
See resource


RECENT HEADLINES
 
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EVENTS

Wednesday, Aug. 19 

Webinar: Does end-of-life ministry need to be in person?

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