“The UMC business platform is a way of showcasing businesses and supporting each other as Christians of the same faith and doctrine. It is another way of empowering and encouraging each other to work hard and support our families, churches and the community at large.” — The Rev. Vienna Mutezo, Zimbabwe West Conference connectional ministries director.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Church WhatsApp group fosters collaboration
HARARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — The United Methodist Church in Zimbabwe has created a dedicated WhatsApp business platform to promote collaboration among church members. The group serves as a virtual meeting space where United Methodists can connect, explore business opportunities, promote each other’s companies and services and offer other support. Priscilla Muzerengwa has the story.
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United Women in Faith
Center helps city’s unhoused
SALT LAKE CITY — Crossroads Urban Center is a grassroots organization that helps people meet basic survival needs and address quality of life issues. The congregations of First United Methodist and Centenary United Methodist churches, which have longtime connections to Crossroads, collect food and other items, welcome Crossroads clients to worship and help close gaps in the center’s services. Nile Sprague and Audrey Stanton-Smith report.
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Florida Conference
Pastor: ‘Just write for the sake of writing’
TAMPA, Fla. — The Rev. Magrey deVega, senior pastor at Hyde Park United Methodist Church, has written 11 books, four study guides and multiple articles on preaching. He spoke to Joe Henderson about the work of spiritual writing. He says he heeds advice to “just write for the sake of writing.”
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COMMENTARIES
UM News 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 UM News staff.
A Methodist mother-in-law for the ages
DALLAS (UM News) — Mary Brooke Casad offers a tribute to her mother-in-law, Dede Weldon Casad, a longtime United Methodist clergy spouse who was “forever beginning.” She earned a Ph.D. at 73 and started a senior adult ministry at 87. Dede Casad died last month at age 94.
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Baltimore-Washington Conference
‘The fierce urgency of now'
BALTIMORE — Thousands of people will gather on Aug. 26 for the 60th anniversary and commemoration of the historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The Rev. Dr. C. Anthony Hunt, senior pastor of Epworth Chapel United Methodist Church, considers how the speech the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. gave that day still resonates in the ongoing struggle for equality.
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RESOURCES
United Methodist Communications
Hospitality tips for the 21st century
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Many church members sit in the sanctuary on Sunday mornings with an eye turned toward the door, hoping that new visitors will enter. This might not happen as frequently as churches would like. The Rev. Michael Beck, director of Fresh Expressions at Discipleship Ministries, shares time-tested tips that United Methodists should consider when learning how to be more welcoming. Laura Buchanan reports.
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EVENTS
Monday, Aug. 21-Friday, Sept. 29
Spiritual Disciplines for Personal and Parish Renewal
Monday, Sept. 11-Friday, Oct. 20
Autism and the Church: All Part of Jesus’ Puzzle
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