“After learning about the precarious conditions in which the Kasapa prisoners live, we didn’t hesitate to come and, through this social gesture, put a smile back on the prisoners’ faces.” — The Rev. Caleb Mbaz, coordinator of the Disaster Management Office in South Congo.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Church helps feed prisoners in Congo
LUBUMBASHI, Congo (UM News) — With support from the United Methodist Committee on Relief, church members in Southern Congo provided food and other supplies to inmates at Kasapa Central Prison. Church leaders also brought a message of hope. Christian Kasweka has the story.
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Council of Bishops
Bishops condemn attacks on civilians
WASHINGTON — The United Methodist Council of Bishops condemns Russia’s ongoing attacks on civilian targets, most recently the attack on the Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital in Kyiv. Attacks against civilian targets are war crimes and a violation of all humanitarian principles, the bishops said in a statement.
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South Carolina Conference
‘Christ is moving in young people’
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Week after week at campuses across South Carolina, students gather for Bible studies, meals, prayer times and other hangout opportunities, seeking a deeper faith connection in a world that can often feel tumultuous. “Christ is moving in young people,” said the Rev. John Sterling Poole, Charleston Wesley Foundation director. Jessica Brodie reports.
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Dakotas Conference
Conference remembers solar oven missionary
MITCHELL, S.D. — A United Methodist who helped bring solar ovens to people in the Dominican Republic and Sierra Leone and to Native American communities in the U.S. has died. Christopher Rudolph “Ina” Sylvah, a native of Sierra Leone who spent much of his life in Minnesota, died July 1 at age 67. After retiring from the finance industry, he became director of Solar Oven Partners, a ministry of the Dakotas Conference.
Read Dakotas Conference obituary
Read full obituary
BMW Owners News
Biker bishop is podcast guest
COLUMBIA, Mo. — United Methodist Bishop Robert Farr talks about his love of motorcycle riding in the podcast “Riding Into the Sunset.” The bishop also shares how his pastime has given him evangelism opportunities and how the Missouri Conference, which he leads, raised funds to buy motorcycles for pastors in Mozambique. Dallas journalist Ed Housewright is the program’s host.
Listen to podcast
New 2024 annual conference reports posted
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodist News is posting 2024 annual conference reports. New this week are the Mississippi, North Katanga and Tanganyika conferences.
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PRESS RELEASES
Wesley's Chapel
British Methodists celebrate Isaac Watts
LONDON — Wesley’s Chapel and Leysian Mission, London’s oldest surviving Methodist Church, celebrated the 350th birthday of Isaac Watts on July 17. Watts, the first prolific author of hymns in the English language, is known for such beloved hymns as “Joy to the World,” “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,” “O God Our Help in Ages Past” and “Jesus Shall Reign Where’er the Sun.”
Read press release (PDF)
See post on Facebook
United Methodist Publishing House
Maria Mayo named senior editor
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The United Methodist Publishing House has named Maria Mayo, a nine-year veteran editor with the publisher, as senior editor. Mayo, who has a Master of Divinity and Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University, will lead the general adult studies publishing program starting Aug. 1.
Read press release
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