"Vano is imprisoned for living out his baptismal covenant ‘to resist injustice and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves.’" — The Rev. Kiboko I. Kiboko on his brother’s imprisonment in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Pastor seeks help freeing brother in Congo
DES MOINES, Iowa (UMNS) — A United Methodist pastor in Iowa is trying to save the life of his brother, who is imprisoned in the Democratic Republic of Congo. And the pastor wants help from the church and the Obama administration.
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Want a better life? Try a bucket list
LEIPER’S FORK, Tenn. (UMNS) — Shirley Bachelder’s bucket list has ballooned into a lifetime of adventures and celebrations for the 93-year-old — most recently a hot-air balloon ride. “God was there,” she said. “I felt so close to him and felt him saying, 'Well, what do you think, Shirley?'” Susan Passi-Klaus reports on how United Methodists with a bucket list say it helps them live more fully.
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Ebola is a call for faith
WASHINGTON (UMNS) — Rose Farhat uses the story of the four men letting their friend down through a roof to see Jesus to describe the response needed for those caught in the Ebola epidemic in this commentary for the United Methodist Board of Church and Society. Farhat, a Liberian, heads Women of Prayer & Praise, a nonprofit organization that works for education of women and girls in West Africa.
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Church featured in USA Today’s Black History Month edition
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — The United Methodist Church will be featured in USA Today’s special edition for Black History Month, available Feb. 2. Two separate ads will look at the critical role the denomination has played throughout groundbreaking moments in U.S. history. One ad features the Black College Fund, the other urges readers to “Rethink Church” by “encouraging conversations that build understanding and inspire reconciliation.”
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Bishop Carter: Measuring what matters
LAKELAND, Fla. (UMNS) — The church conversation about numbers and metrics is often dominated by “two extreme and less-than-helpful perspectives,” writes Florida Area Bishop Kenneth H. Carter Jr. for the Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
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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.
Sunday-Wednesday, Feb. 1-4
International conference of the Asia-Pacific Association of Methodist-related Educational Institutions — Gathering will be at Yonsei University in Incheon, South Korea. This organization promotes collaborative institutional networking among United Methodist-related schools, colleges, universities and theological schools in the Asia-Pacific region. United Methodist Bishop Rodolfo Juan of the Philippines, the Rev. Kim Cape, top executive of the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry, and the Rev. Pamela Lightsey, associate dean of Boston University School of Theology, will be among the speakers. Details.
Monday-Wednesday, Feb. 2-4
Perkins School of Theology's Ministers Week — Southern Methodist University's Perkins School of Theology in Dallas will bring together church leaders who are seeking new ways of growing and forming the church. The school will honor two alumni — the Revs. James V. Lyles and Ted J. Dotts Jr. — at 6 p.m. CST Feb.2. Details.
You can see more educational opportunities and other upcoming events in the life of the church here.
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