"A unique piece of our DNA is that we’re always on the frontier, willing to go past where others have gone to take the message of God’s love and to bring people to some kind of experience of that." — The Rev. Alfred T. Day on the 1970s comic books about John Wesley and Francis Asbury.
The adventures of John Wesley and Francis Asbury
MADISON, N.J. (UMC.org) — A series of comic books created for confirmation classes in the 1970s told of the dangers John Wesley and Francis Asbury faced as they carried the Gospel on horseback to early settlers. The “Winning the Frontier” series captured the sometimes harrowing story of the founding fathers of Methodism in the New World.
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Huston Smith, world religions scholar, dies at 97
BERKELEY, Calif. — Huston Smith, a renowned scholar of world religions and the son of Methodist missionaries, has died at age 97. His 1958 book “The Religions of Man,” later shortened and titled “The World’s Religions,” became a standard textbook in college comparative religion courses. The New York Times has an obituary.
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Commentary: Real issues facing churches in Africa
SEDGEWICK, Alberta (UMNS) — While much of The United Methodist Church focuses on LGBTQ issues, the church in Africa faces divisions and exclusions such as tribalism, regionalism and polygamy. The Rev. Lloyd Nyarota, an elder from Zimbabwe, writes about African church issues that General Conference hasn’t addressed.
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Intergenerational ministries blossom in Florida
TITUSVILLE, Fla. (UMNS) — Bridging the gap between generations, from young children to the elderly, is important for vital, growing congregations. D’Ann Lawrence White, writing for the Florida Conference, looks at the challenges and opportunities for building intergenerational ministry.
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North Georgia bishop is new Emory trustee
ATLANTA (UMNS) — United Methodist Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson is among the three new members elected to Emory University’s Board of Trustees.
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Agencies make plans for E-Reader Project
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — The United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry and Discipleship Ministries plan to expand the E-Reader Project in the next four years. The expansion will support local congregations in Africa, schools and higher education, and an initiative on global health education.
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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, Jan. 15
Human Relations Day — United Methodist communities come together on Human Relations Day to invest in those in need of hope and an opportunity to thrive. The offerings from this Special Sunday support after-school programs, prison outreach, gang intervention, youth development and other important ministries.
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