“With mechanized farming, the hope for the future is bright.” — Lahai Mansaray, Bandakor Village chief, on the benefits of the Bishop Yambasu Agriculture Initiative in his community in Sierra Leone.
TODAY’S HEADLINES
Bishop Yambasu initiative harvests first crops
PUJEHUN, Sierra Leone (UM News) — A group of excited, sickle-armed farmers, mainly women from the Bandakor Village community, sweated and sang in the scorching heat of a January afternoon as they lopped swaths of rice stalks from the ground. They were harvesting the first yields of the Bishop Yambasu Agriculture Initiative, a pilot project launched by the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries two years ago. Phileas Jusu has the story.
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UM News: Mission agency funds agriculture, refugee programs
Texas Conference
Church a partner in school’s music program
HOUSTON – Boynton Chapel United Methodist Church, in Houston’s Third Ward, has partnered with nearby Blackshear Elementary School to provide a music program as part of after-school care. The children’s grades have gone up and their conduct has improved as they’ve acquired the discipline that comes with learning an instrument. Lindsay Peyton reports.
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Pacific Northwest Conference
Marji B. Tuell, bishop’s widow, dies
DES MOINES, Wash. — Marjorie “Marji” B. Tuell, spouse of the late Bishop Jack M. Tuell, died Feb. 9 just days after her 96th birthday. She was an expert in hymnody and helped with the creation of the 1989 United Methodist Hymnal. A memorial service is scheduled at 2 p.m. U.S. Pacific time April 6 at Des Moines United Methodist Church.
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PRESS RELEASES
Africa University, Discipleship Ministries
New scholarship fund honors Dotson
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Rev. Junius B. Dotson, who was the top executive at United Methodist Discipleship Ministries until his death last year, is being honored by the Black Staff Association of The United Methodist Church with a scholarship fund in his name at Africa University. Nearly $1.2 million has been collected so far, which will be awarded to undergraduate students in the College of Business, Peace, Leadership and Governance at the university in Zimbabwe.
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UM News: Discipleship's top executive dies of cancer
Wesley Theological Seminary
Seminary starts hybrid curriculum
WASHINGTON — Wesley Theological Seminary, one of 13 United Methodist seminaries in the U.S., is starting a hybrid program that combines short immersive, Washington-based experiences coupled with online learning in its first non-residential degree program. It will enable students to complete a four-year Master of Divinity degree via eight intensive hybrid weeks on campus alongside online courses taken throughout the academic year.
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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 UM News staff.
Raising my children to be anti-racist
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — White Christian parents must commit to doing anti-racism work and model that for their children, writes Liz Shadbolt, a United Methodist deaconess. She suggests moving from being non-racist ("colorblind") to anti-racist and actively working to dismantle oppressive systems.
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EVENTS
Friday, March 4-Sunday, March 6
Together We Welcome: A Virtual National Faith Gathering to Strengthen Support for Refugees, Immigrants, and Migrants
Tuesday March 22
Handling the Church's Money in a New Day
TOP STORIES FROM THE WEEK
Small church transforms lives with day shelter
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (UM News) — In 2020, Trinity United Methodist Church opened a day shelter that offers the homeless and working poor a place to eat, take a shower and do laundry. A network of community partners helps support the ministry of this small congregation. Joey Butler reports and Mike DuBose has photos.
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Black church honors past, points to future
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — At John Wesley United Methodist Church, Black History Month is about the future. The Rev. Daniel M. Hayes, the pastor, believes “it’s up to Black folk to make sure our history continues to go all year-round.” The church is focused on the next generation of Black men and women having every advantage as they go out into the world. Jim Patterson reports.
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Education empowers women and girls in Kenya
MOHETO, Kenya (UM News) — Moheto First United Methodist Church, in partnership with Wema Health Foundation, conducted a workshop on female genital mutilation to help empower young women and girls, educate them about their rights and advocate for change. Titled "Our Well-Being Is Our Future," the three-day session on gender-based violence drew 200 girls and women. Gad Maiga reports.
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Commentary: The one thing it takes to remain committed
HOUSTON — There’s quite a difference between being “involved" and being “committed.” Consider the frequently cited breakfast examples of the chicken and the pig — and the biblical figure of Ruth. The Rev. Joseph Yoo of Mosaic Church in Pearland, Texas, writes about what Ruth teaches about commitment.
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Commentary: 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.
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