“What we’re doing here is giving away God’s love. We’re leaving deep marks on their hearts because of the love that we’re sharing with them.” — Maria Teresa “Teca” Greathouse, a United Methodist Board of Global Ministries missionary about the medical boat on the Amazon river.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Slideshow: ‘John Wesley’ sails the Amazon
MANAUS, Brazil (UMNS) — Since 2001, the “John Wesley” Methodist Medical Boat has sailed the waters of the Amazon River and several of its tributaries, providing faith, hope, love and health to indigenous communities in northern Brazil. United Methodist News Service traveled with a volunteer medical team from the Methodist Church of Brazil and the Florida Conference, and the professional crew of the John Wesley, to document this vital ministry. Mike DuBose and Gustavo Vasquez provide imagery for this multimedia presentation.
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Church mobilizes to help cyclone survivors
CHIMANIMANI-CHIPINGE, Zimbabwe (UMNS) — Cyclone Idai left a path of destruction in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi, killing at least 180 people and damaging United Methodist schools, churches, hospitals and homes. A team of communicators from Mozambique and Zimbabwe reports on The United Methodist Church’s efforts to aid survivors in the region.
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Western Jurisdiction
Western Jurisdiction team responds to GC2019
PORTLAND, Ore. — The Western Jurisdiction leadership team met March 14 to discuss General Conference 2019. The team issued a statement calling on The United Methodist Church to “repent of the exclusionary principles of the Traditional Plan,” which passed at General Conference. Greg Nelson reports.
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Read statement
Minnesota Conference
Love Boldly micro grants
MINNEAPOLIS —The United Methodist Church in Minnesota is offering micro grants of up to $1,000 to help local churches in the conference reach their communities and rebuild the denomination’s reputation. Christa Meland and Cindy Gregorson report.
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Board of Global Ministries
UMCOR extends ‘neighborliness’ to all
ATLANTA — Jesus turns the definition of “neighbor” upside down in the story of the Good Samaritan, and the United Methodist Committee on Relief has answered God’s call to be a neighbor for nearly 80 years, writes Christie R. House. House reports about UMCOR’s long tradition of response, relief and recovery. Supporting UMCOR Sunday, March 31, gives UMCOR the capacity to respond where needed and when called, whatever the situation.
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Learn more about UMCOR SUNDAY
COMMENTARIES
Editor’s note: United Methodist News Service includes various opinion pieces about the plans for future of the church and other issues in the church in the Daily Digest. These commentaries reflect a variety of viewpoints and are the opinions of the writers, not of the UMNS staff.
Mountain Sky Conference
To those considering leave The United Methodist Church
DENVER — Bishop Karen Oliveto writes about why she, as a lifelong United Methodist and a lesbian, chooses to stay in church after the actions of General Conference 2019. “I am staying because I want to reclaim the best of our tradition for the generations that come after me,” writes the Mountain Sky bishop.
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RECENT HEADLINES
New York, New Jersey conferences confer on GC2019
Task force to investigate GC2019 voting
EVENTS
Monday, March 25-Monday, May 13
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