"We now have parents because they sent a car to pick us up and take us back to Kindu. We are happy to be part of God's children in The United Methodist Church." — Heritier Kimenya, an orphan displaced by violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Photo by Judith Osongo Yanga, UMNS
NEWS AND FEATURES
United Methodists help displaced in DRC
SAMBA, Democratic Republic of Congo (UMNS) — United Methodists in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with assistance from partners in Switzerland and France, secretly distributed food and other assistance to people displaced by rebel violence. The church team also brought some widows and orphans into a safer area. Judith Osongo Yanga reports.
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South Bend Tribune
Stabbing highlights conflict over ministry
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The Jan. 23 stabbing of a Saint Mary’s College nursing student who was volunteering at Broadway Christian Parish Church, a United Methodist congregation, has highlighted the conflict with neighbors over a church ministry program. Howard Dukes reports.
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Meet Bishop Sharma Lewis
RICHMOND, Va. (UMC.org) — The Rev. Joe Iovino gets to know Bishop Sharma Lewis of the Richmond Episcopal Area in his latest “Get Your Spirit in Shape” podcast. The United Methodist bishop talks about her deep roots in the church — she is the 14th pastor in her family — her call to ministry from medicine, her love of shoes and her rich prayer life.
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PRESS RELEASES
Center for American Progress
Church and Society’s 'faith leader to watch'
WASHINGTON — The Rev. Jeania Ree Moore, director for civil and human rights, United Methodist Board of Church and Society, has been named one of the “10 Faith Leaders to Watch in 2018.”
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Board of Higher Education and Ministry
Partnership offers class on sustainability
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry is collaborating with Oklahoma City University, the Oklahoma conference and Mark Davies to launch a hub for Leadership, Education and Development for North America. The LEaD hub is partnering with the ecological sustainability faculty at Boston University, Green Mountain College and Oklahoma City University — all United Methodist-related colleges — to organize the Summer Sustainability Institute 2018. The institute is for undergraduate students from Methodist-related colleges and universities.
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COMMENTARIES
What churches can learn from the Olympics
PYEONGCHANG, South Korea (UMCOM) — The Olympic Games face a very specific challenge: They take sports that are only vaguely familiar, often filled with athletes that few people recognize, and try to make them the focus of the world. The situation is not unlike what local churches face: Engage and inspire a community while overcoming the challenge of simply communicating at times complicated information. Dan Wunderlich offers the four components of Olympic engagement.
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RECENT HEADLINES
Chaplains reunited on PBS special 'We’ll Meet Again'
Commentary: Church should do more to fight racism
EVENTS
Here are some of the activities ahead for United Methodists across the connection. If you have a United Methodist event to share, you can add it to the calendar with this submission form.
Monday, Feb. 12-Tuesday, April 3
Online Lenten Retreat for Lent 2018: Fools for Love
Sunday, March 11
UMCOR Sunday (Formerly One Great Hour of Sharing)
Share your story or tips with us at [email protected].
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