Daily Digest - December 5, 2014

“I believe that Eddie Fox has been the most visible evangelistic face in the Methodist/Wesleyan movement in our lifetime.” — North Georgia Area Bishop Michael Watson, who is a member of the World Methodist Council’s steering committee.

Evangelist: Traveling the world to spread gospel

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — The Rev. H. Eddie Fox was born in the Appalachian foothills and never saw an ocean until he was 21. But as head of World Methodist Evangelism, he traveled millions of miles to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ on every inhabited continent in the world. Tom Gillem has the story for United Methodist News Service.

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Doctor who died of Ebola remembered as hero

FREETOWN, Sierra Leone (UMNS) — The death of Dr. Martin Salia — the United Methodist Kissy Hospital surgeon who died of Ebola after he was airlifted to the U.S. for treatment — was mourned as an “irreparable loss” by colleagues, church officials, family members, and government officials. Communicator Phileas Jusu has the story.

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Governor apologizes at Sand Creek 150th ceremony

DENVER (UMNS) — The Sand Creek Massacre 150th commemoration and healing run ended Dec. 3 at the steps of the Colorado State Capitol. United Methodist Bishop Elaine Stanvosky was among those present when Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper formally apologized on behalf of the state for the massacre.

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Ebola cause for concern in Côte d’Ivoire

MAN, Côte d’Ivoire (UMNS) — Though no cases of the deadly Ebola virus have been reported in Côte d’Ivoire, the threat stalks the western part of the country, which shares borders with Liberia, Guinea and Mali. “Our borders are not walls with doors where we can prevent someone from entering or leaving," said Dr. Simplice Adouko. Isaac Broune, communicator for The United Methodist Church in Côte d’Ivoire, reports.

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Twila Stowe Bryan, widow of two bishops, dies

DALLAS (UMNS) — Twila Stowe Bryan, widow of Bishop W. McFerrin Stowe and Bishop Monk Bryan, died Nov. 25 in Dallas.  She was 96. Bishop Stowe served the Kansas Area from 1964 to 1972. Twila Stowe Bryan was active in the life of the Kansas East and Kansas West Conferences and worshiped at First United Methodist Church in Topeka. She was a member of Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dallas at the time of her death.

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Churches respond after school bus tragedy

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — Two United Methodist congregations invited the community to join in prayer on Dec. 3 after a tragic accident involving two school buses and three fatalities. Church Street United Methodist Church hosted about 200 people for a candlelight prayer vigil in its downtown parking lot, while Piney Grove United Methodist Church gathered with about 20 people in east Knoxville. John Shearer of the Holston Conference has the story.

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Dec. 5 Advent quiz question

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — It’s the setting for the Nativity, but you may not know this fact about Bethlehem. Try answering today’s question on the daily UMC.org Advent quiz.

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Follow the Advent quiz

Correction:

Due to a clerical error, an article on bishop audits initially misreported Bishop José Quipungo’s salary as less than other African bishops in the first quarter of 2015. He will make the same as his African colleagues during the first quarter. Read corrected story

Looking ahead

Here are some of the activities ahead for United Methodists across the connection. If you have an item to share, email [email protected] and put Digest in the subject line.

Friday-Saturday, Dec. 12-13

Appalachian Christmas — Weekend at Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center in Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, will include a Christmas concert featuring the Lake Junaluska Singers, the Cockman Family and Handel’s Messiah. Details.

You can see more educational opportunities and other upcoming events in the life of the church here.


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