Daily Digest - February 05, 2013

"There were mentors along my path, groups, and colleagues that I was able to meet with and encourage me and help me in my calling and I would just be honored to do that for somebody else ... it is an important time in the life of someone as they are searching for candidacy." - The Rev. Amanda Gordon, senior pastor of Minor Memorial United Methodist Church in Walls, Miss.

Candidacy mentoring supports those called to support

JACKSON, Miss. (UMNS) - The Rev. Amanda Gordon is embracing a first-time opportunity to serve as a candidate mentor in the Mississippi Annual (regional) Conference. Tamica Smith-Jeuitt of the Mississippi Conference explains that the mentors have a dual goal to serve the candidate and the church.
Read story

Camp leaders retreat from business of retreating

FRUITLAND PARK, Fla. (UMNS) - More than 300 out-of-state camp staffers, along with vendors, presenters and Florida Conference employees, turned out for the biannual National United Methodist Camp and Retreat Leaders Gathering. Susan Green of the Florida Annual (regional) Conference provides details.
Read story

Central conferences developing sustainable resources

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - United Methodists in developing nations, who for years have lacked basic Christian education materials, are using seed money and newly learned entrepreneurial skills to write and produce their own resources for learning and making disciples for Christ.
Read story

Mississippi church plants Congo radio station

OCEAN SPRINGS, Miss. (UMNS) - St. Paul United Methodist Church of Ocean Springs is planting a gospel and information radio station in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in central Africa as part of its outreach mission, Sun-Herald.com reports. St. Paul is contributing through United Methodist Communications. The radio station is to be a resource for getting out "good, reliable information" on health and news and a means of evangelism, the Rev. Chris Cumbest told the Sun-Herald.com.
Read story

New Central Methodist University president

FAYETTE, Mo. (UMNS) - Roger Drake has been named the next president of United Methodist-related Central Methodist University and will take office July 1. Drake will become the 26th president in Central Methodist history, which dates to 1854. He will replace Marianne Inman, who will retire in June after 18 years as president.
Read news release

Safe sanctuaries and freedom from fear

INDIANAPOLIS (UMNS) - Indiana Area Bishop Michael Coyner offers some suggestions for churches seeking to prevent violence. His main purpose, he writes, "is to start the conversation, or perhaps to move the conversation along beyond fear and a sense of paralysis. There is no way that anyone can guarantee our safety at all times. However, we must do all that we can to make our churches safe and secure, and we all must help our people not to live in fear."
Read blog