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Nurse Franck Onamemba shows broken windows at United Methodist Irambo Health Center in Bukavu, Congo. The church hospital was ransacked by armed men during the weekend of Feb. 14-16 as fighting between M23 rebels and the Congolese armed forces continues in eastern Congo. Photo by Philippe Kituka Lolonga, UM News.

Violence, vandalism strike church in Congo

Fighting in eastern Congo has affected United Methodist families and ministries, including an attack at United Methodist Irambo Health Center in Bukavu.

Editor's Picks

Global Health

Loneliness is an epidemic according to a 2023 report from the U.S. Surgeon General. The Rev. Michael Adam Beck, a Florida pastor and director of Fresh Expressions for The United Methodist Church, offers ways to change that in his new book, “Never Alone: Sharing the Gift of Community in a Lonely World.” Image by WOKANDAPIX, courtesy of Pixabay.

Can Fresh Expressions rescue the lonely?

A new book by the director of Fresh Expressions for The United Methodist Church diagnoses humanity as suffering from deep loneliness. The Rev. Michael Adam Beck believes he has the cure.

Church Leadership

The Rev. Michael Adam Beck leads The United Methodist Church’s Fresh Expressions movement. In his new book, “Never Alone,” the pastor of St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Ocala, Fla., says Fresh Expressions can help create community for people suffering from loneliness. Photo courtesy of the Rev. Michael Adam Beck.

From prisoner to pastor

The Rev. Michael Adam Beck knows all about being lonely, and he thinks he can help a lot of other people like him get to a better place.

Evangelism

The Rev. Éric Kalumba greets a church member after worship at Ambodifasika United Methodist Church in Ambodifasika, Madagascar. Kalumba, a missionary with the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, is charged with planting new United Methodist churches across the island. Photo by Esdras Rakotoarivony, UM News.

Missionary strives to grow church in Madagascar

The Rev. Éric Kalumba is on a mission to spread the Gospel and establish new United Methodist churches across the island.

Latest News

Central Conferences

The United Methodist Church is getting a new map in Africa. When the Africa Central Conference meets March 13-17 in Johannesburg, the central conference will split to form the Southern Africa and East Africa central conferences. Central conferences are responsible for electing bishops and making adaptations to the Book of Discipline for their missional context. Graphic by Ben Ward, UM News.

Church gears up for new bishops, new map

People kneel in front of Central United Methodist Church in Atlanta during a protest march that followed the 2020 murder of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis. The church was established in 1866 in one of the few areas where freed Black people could settle after the Civil War. It moved in 1928 to this location near Gammon Theological Seminary, on what is now Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. File photo by the Rev. Joseph McBrayer.

Pouring new wine into old wineskins

Mission and Ministry

“Hope this letter finds you in the best of health and spirits.” Books requested by an inmate have been carefully packaged for shipping by Books to Prisons volunteers in Birmingham, Ala. Photo by Lilla Marigza, UM News.

Ministry sends Books to Prisons

Violence

United Methodists Joséphine Kingombe and Masudi Kansilembo read messages sent to their phones by pastors in Bukavu, Congo. Church leaders are sending support to help the faithful during growing insecurity in the region. Photo by Philippe Kituka Lolonga, UM News.

United Methodists stay connected amid Congo conflict

Social Concerns

Young people hold a banner during a rally for peace in Kindu, Congo, in early February. Behind them, United Methodist clergy and other young people march to demand peace in eastern Congo, where fighting between M23 rebels and the Congolese army has escalated in recent months. Photo by Chadrack Tambwe Londe, UM News.

Churches multiply peace initiatives in eastern Congo

Human Sexuality

The Rev. Izzy Alvaran (right) and others pray together on May 1 after the 2024 United Methodist General Conference, meeting in Charlotte, N.C., voted to remove the denomination's ban on the ordination of "self-avowed practicing” gay clergy — a prohibition that dated to 1984. Alvaran is on the staff of the Reconciling Ministries Network, which has unveiled a new strategic plan after success at last year’s General Conference. File photo by Paul Jeffrey, UM News.

LGBTQ advocates aim to build on 2024 gains

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Local Church

The Rev. Grace Pak leads a session on cross-cultural theology at the United Methodist Church of the Incarnation in Schaumburg, Ill., during the 2024 CRCC Madang retreat on Aug. 13, 2024. File photo by the Rev. Heewon Kim, the National Association of Korean-American United Methodist Pastors Serving Cross-Racial/Cultural Appointments.

Program strengthens cross-racial ministry

Evangelism

Larry and Jane Kies pose for a photo in Vumba, one of the scenic areas outside Mutare, Zimbabwe. Behind them is a Zimbabwean indigenous tree called Musasa. As United Methodist missionaries, the couple contributed to the development of agriculture and education in the country at the church’s Nyadire Mission and Africa University. Photo courtesy of Larry Kies.

Missionaries leave mark on agriculture, education

Social Concerns

A couple recounts the threats of violence that caused them to flee Mexico with their 1-year-old child in this 2018 file photo. The family took shelter at the Christ United Methodist Ministry Center in San Diego while seeking asylum. United Methodists continue to speak out against Trump administration policies that target undocumented immigrants. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Church advocates for at-risk immigrants

Mission and Ministry

Leaders with the Association of the Korean United Methodist Church of the California-Pacific Conference visit and pray at Altadena United Methodist Church on Feb. 24. The historic African American church in Altadena, California, was destroyed by wildfire in January. Photo by the Rev. Thomas E. Kim, UM News.

Korean-led campaign raises funds for wildfire relief

General Church

Congo Central Conference gets new dates

Commentaries

Anna Riddle. Photo by Heather Gaydeski Photography.

Carrie Parrish's legacy holds lessons for today

The Rev. Dr. Tércio B. Junker Photo courtesy of the Northern Illinois Conference.

In the Wesleys’ footsteps: Reflecting on justice, faith

The Rev. Paul W. Chilcote. Photo courtesy of the author.

A refreshed Wesleyan vision is emerging

The Rev. April Casperson. Courtesy of Otterbein University.

Amendment would make church more open

The Rev. Dr. Jean Claude Masuka Maleka. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Mission can revitalize United Methodism

Churches build bridges to counter hate

The Rev. Mel West. Photo courtesy of the Rev. Mel West.

World news becomes family news

The Rev. Christopher P. Momany. Photo by Kristen Schell.

Resistance is not enough

Multimedia

Artist Ary Scheffer (1796-1858) / Wikimedia Commons; graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News

Social media graphics for Lent and Easter

Download art for Lent and Easter from United Methodist to share on social media.

Faith Sharing

Photo by Charity Ponter; graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News. Luke 6:31

Social media graphics from UM News

Church History

The history of Pickett Chapel United Methodist Church in Lebanon, Tenn., goes back almost 200 years. Pickett Chapel is believed to be the oldest African American church building in the state of Tennessee. Photo from video by Lilla Marigza, UM News.

Historic church tells story of slavery, triumph

A portion of Hong Kong at night as seen from Victoria Peak. More than 400,000 migrant domestic workers live in Hong Kong, about five percent of the total population. They cook and clean and care for children, pets, and the elderly. They also at times endure horrible treatment. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UM News.

United Methodists support migrant workers in Hong Kong

Mission and Ministry

On the eve of the 2024 United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C., climate activists hold a candlelight Vigil for Creation to mark Earth Day and to call the denomination to greater stewardship of creation. Participants included Mary Frances Gaston (left) Emily McGinn, students at the Candler School of Theology in Atlanta. The service took place at the First United Methodist Church of Charlotte. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

The year in photos

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