Daily Digest - February 17, 2022

“My entire attitude throughout all of it is — it’s not about me. I am put on this earth to share the Gospel.”Evan McCrady, a church musician with a rare kidney disease. 


NEWS AND FEATURES

Holston Conference
Musician shares Gospel while fighting illness

MARYVILLE, Tenn. — Evan McCrady, age 21, leads a praise band at Fairview United Methodist Church. He also struggles with a rare kidney disease. He shared his music and testimony at Resurrection, the Holston Conference’s youth event. Annette Spence has the story.
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New England Conference
Church pays ‘royalties’ for spirituals

BROOKLINE, Mass. — The United Parish in Brookline wanted to honor the memory of the people who created so many of the church’s beloved spirituals. That led to the congregation’s Negro Spirituals Royalties Project. The congregation is affiliated with The United Methodist Church, United Church of Christ and the American Baptist Churches. Beth DiCocco explains how the project works. 
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Greater Northwest Area
Habitat for Humanity honors couple

VANCOUVER, Wash. — The Evergreen Habitat for Humanity has begun work on a new subdivision of homes named for the late Ray and Harriet Johnson, members of First United Methodist Church in Vancouver for more than 60 years. Patrick Scriven reports on the couple’s impact on Habitat for Humanity and United Methodist ministry.
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Sioux Falls Argus Leader
Retired pastor finds place in music group

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — These days, performances by the Kazukes music group have a bass undertone and the occasional harmonica solo. The Rev. Rodney Gist, a 95-year-old retired United Methodist pastor and World War II veteran, is the group’s oldest member and brings with him an array of musical talents. Alfonzo Galvan has the story.
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The Tennessean
Man sentenced in church arsons

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A U.S. federal judge sentenced Alan Douglas Fox, 29, to seven years in federal prison for setting fire to four churches in 2019. Crievewood United Methodist Church was among the churches Fox targeted. Liam Adams reports. 
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COMMENTARIES
UM News includes in the Daily Digest various commentaries about issues in the denomination. The opinion pieces reflect a variety of viewpoints and are the opinions of the writers, not the UM News staff.

United Methodist Communications
Church commitment looks different today

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — As the pandemic forces society to adapt to a new normal, United Methodists are finding new ways to commit their lives to Christ and the church. The Rev. Ryan Dunn writes about what church membership looks like in 2022.
Read commentary


RECENT HEADLINES

Black church honors past, points to future


Commentary: We’ve come this far by faith 


EVENTS

Monday, Feb. 28-Friday, April 8

Online course: A Lenten Film Festival

Wednesday, March 2
Ash Wednesday 

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