"She was laid back, very humble. She just responded to the suffering before her." — The Rev. Kathleen Day says of Kayla Mueller, a humanitarian aid worker held hostage and killed by the Islamic State group.
Slain hostage was following call to offer aid
PRESCOTT, Ariz. (UMNS) — Kayla Mueller died 6,000 miles from her Arizona home, taken hostage and then killed as she followed her call to offer humanitarian aid in Syria. Friends and family say the 26-year-old was walking the path she believed God set for her. Kathy Gilbert has the story.
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Methodist History: Mother African Zoar’s long legacy
PHILADELPHIA (UMNS) — African Zoar United Methodist Church has served as a refuge for 220 years. The historic church was a stop on the Underground Railroad and housed the first well-baby clinic for African Americans in Philadelphia. “And the name ‘Mother’ is significant because we birthed five other churches,” says Betty Henderson, a member of the church.
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Church partners get Lilly grant on financial literacy
GLENVIEW, Ill. (UMNS) — The Lilly Endowment Inc. has awarded a $50,000 planning grant for improving financial literacy and overall financial well-being of pastoral leaders in The United Methodist Church. The United Methodist Boards of Pension and Health Benefits and Higher Education and Ministry, along with the Texas Methodist Foundation, will collaborate on this effort.
United Methodists help with student's housing need
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (UMNS) — Matthew Gabriel found housing for school, thanks to the United Methodist connection. The 27-year-old’s housing arrangements for a five-week internship at St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood, Colorado, fell apart. Then, his parents sought help from the church.
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Richey to lecture on `Formation for Ministry'
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — Russell Richey, dean emeritus of Emory University's Candler School of Theology, will give the 2015 Willson Lecture. His title: "Formation for Ministry: Twenty-First Century Opportunities." The event is March 12, at 9 a.m., at Harambee Auditorum of Scarritt Bennett Center.
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Cleaver to speak at Perkins
DALLAS (UMNS) — U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, D-Mo., and a United Methodist clergyman, will be the chapel preacher at Perkins School of Theology, part of Southern Methodist University, on Thursday, Feb. 19. It's a Black History Month event, and starts at 11:30 a.m., in Perkins Chapel. Cleaver was the first African American mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, and was pastor of St. James United Methodist Church in Kansas City from 1972-2009.
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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.
Tuesday, Feb. 17
Free webinar "Creating and Nurturing an Intergenerational Ministry" — 10 a.m. CST. Barbara Bruce, a Christian educator and author of "Teaching Children Bible Basics," "7 Ways of Teaching the Bible to Children" and "Our Spiritual Brain," will discuss how to create a ministry that includes people of all ages. Details.
Youth ministry webinar "Doubt and Discipleship" — 7-8 p.m. EST. The second of three webinars led by the Rev. Sam Halverson, longtime youth minister and associate director of connectional ministries in the North Georgia Conference. This one looks at what is harmful and helpful in responding to doubt in youth ministry. Details.
You can see more educational opportunities and other upcoming events in the life of the church here.
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