“With my bicycle, I will no longer have to walk hundreds of miles to make disciples of Jesus Christ.” — The Rev. Ngongo Asaka, pastor of a United Methodist church in Lunga, Congo.
NEWS AND FEATURES
New bikes, Bibles help pastors spread Gospel
TUNDA, Congo (UM News) — Pastors in rural Congo can now can get around easily and save travel time with new bicycles purchased through support from Crosspoint Church, a multi-campus United Methodist church in Northwest Florida. The pastors also received Bibles to boost their evangelism efforts. Chadrack Tambwe Londe has the story.
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United Methodist Communications
Church cookbooks serve as time capsules
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vintage Methodist cookbooks are time capsules, allowing a look at food culture, nutrition, family budgets and the availability of food items in a particular region at the time. In this downloadable video, Our United Methodist Table test kitchen tries two recipes from an Ohio Methodist Episcopal church’s 1914 cookbook.
Watch video
North Texas Conference
School in India finds Methodist leadership, support
UNIVERSITY PARK, Texas — United Women in Faith members at University Park United Methodist Church recently heard a talk from Marie McCoy, a chemical engineer who has raised significant funding for The Opportunity School in Chennai, India. The award-winning vocational school, led by Deaconess Kasthuri Devaraj — considered the Mother Teresa of the Methodist Church of India — is for special-needs children and youth. Kim Brannon reports.
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South Georgia Conference
Pastor steps out in faith for midlife ministry
SAVANNAH, Ga. — Early each morning, you will find Nick Pumfrey live on social media sharing God’s word, offering encouragement and issuing a challenge for the day. Until recently, he would hop in his car for his morning commute to his full-time job at Gulfstream in Savannah. Allison Lindsey has the story of this bi-vocational pastor.
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WFAA
Fatal shooting at Methodist hospital
DALLAS — A parolee has been charged with capital murder for an Oct. 22 shooting at Methodist Dallas Medical Center that left two hospital staff members dead. Nestor Oswaldo Hernandez was released from prison last year after serving time for aggravated robbery. Prison system officials said he had permission to visit the hospital because his girlfriend was giving birth there. Pete Freedman, Rebecca Lopez and Tanya Eiserer report.
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PRESS RELEASES
Council of Bishops
Kentucky student wins ecumenical scholarship
WASHINGTON — The Council of Bishops has selected Eliza Love as the 2023 recipient of a $10,000 scholarship to attend the World Council of Churches Ecumenical Institute at Bossey in Switzerland. Love, a member of the Kentucky Conference, is in the process of ordination. Each year, the council elects one student to represent The United Methodist Church in the institute’s Certificate in Ecumenical Studies program.
Read press release
RESOURCES
Willimon to be featured in webinar
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Retired Bishop Will Willimon is the author of a new book titled “Don’t Look Back: Methodist Hope for What Comes Next.” He’ll be featured in a forward-looking webinar for church leaders and congregations. Joining him will be the Rev. F. Douglas Powe Jr., director of the Lewis Center for Church Leadership, the Rev. Olivia Poole, pastor of St. Luke United Methodist Church in Enterprise, Ala., and Haley Jobe, a Duke Divinity School student. The event is set for Nov. 2, beginning at 1 p.m. U.S. Central time. It will be recorded for on-demand viewing.
Learn more and register
RECENT HEADLINES
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EVENTS
Monday, Oct. 31-Friday, Nov. 11
Online course: Becoming Accountable Disciples
Monday, Oct. 31-Friday, Nov. 18
Building Relevant Leadership Structures in Rural Congregations