“The United Methodist Church helped me change my story. Today, I have another identity. My life has changed.” — Bibiche Ohanga, a sexual violence survivor in East Congo who received a scholarship to attend university.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Church provides scholarships for rape survivors
KINDU, Congo (UMNS) — Survivors of sexual violence in the Congo have hope for the future thanks to a scholarship program in the East Congo Episcopal Area. Through Congo Women Arise — a collaboration between the California-Pacific, East Congo, Memphis and Tennessee conferences — and a partnership with the nonprofit Harper Hill Global, The United Methodist Church has been empowering girls and young women who have been raped, abandoned by their families and stigmatized by their communities. Judith Osongo Yanga reports.
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Public Radio International
Border crossing tests students at Lydia Patterson Institute
EL PASO, Texas — United Methodist-affiliated Lydia Patterson Institute has long offered an English-language, college prep education to Hispanic students. Seventy percent of the students come from across the border in Mexico. These days, those students rise as early as 5:30 a.m. to deal with the longer lines at the port of entry into El Paso. Monica Campbell reports.
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Read UMNS story on Lydia Patterson Institute
North Georgia Conference
Faith sustained MLB umpire during job crisis
ATLANTA — Major League Baseball umpire Paul Nauert endured a job crisis in 1999 when he was fired during a labor dispute, but his involvement with a United Methodist church gave him the perspective to use the time off to focus on his family. Now he is thriving personally and professionally. Rebecca Wallace has the story.
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North Carolina Conference
Finding a voice in the church
PLYMOUTH, N.C. — Jimbo Jackson has always been interested in the church, but his cerebral palsy prevented him from speaking. Now, a speech-generating device that works through eye movements has given him a new voice. He uses it to serve as a lector, reading Scripture to the congregation at Plymouth United Methodist Church. Every Day Grace TV reports for the conference.
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South Carolina Conference
Center becomes year-round shelter for homeless men
ROCK HILL, S.C. — Since 2007, Bethel United Methodist Church has offered its facility as a safe and warm place for homeless men to stay during the coldest months of the year. After a “life-changing” conversation with a regular guest, church leaders found the resources and finances to keep the shelter open all year. Jessica Brodie reports.
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COMMENTARIES
United Methodist News Service includes in the Daily Digest various commentaries about issues in the denomination. The opinion pieces reflect a variety of viewpoints and are the opinions of the writers, not the UMNS staff.
Higher Education and Ministry
Opinion: Is your God big enough?
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Rev. Kim Cape, top executive of the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry, challenges believers with some questions aimed at exposing thinking that reduces God to fit into human parameters.
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