“Let us increase our faith and learn more about being the disciples of Jesus. It is high time to stop thinking that we are ordinary people who cannot do discipleship.” — Yehlen Pablo Gragasin, lay leader at Mag-Asawang Sampaloc United Methodist Church, Philippines.
NEWS AND FEATURES
New discipleship program kicks off in Philippines
SANTA MARIA, Philippines (UM News) — More than 1,800 Filipino United Methodists gathered to launch a discipleship program at Seed of Faith United Methodist Church in the Bulacan Province. Called “Lakbayin” or “journey,” the Manila Area program aims to make disciples as mandated by Matthew 28. Lessons can be contextualized according to geographic locations and local church situations. Gladys P. Mangiduyos reports.
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CBS News Texas
Church welcomes heroine of Juneteenth holiday
DALLAS — Opal Lee, who had a key role in making Juneteenth a U.S. holiday, was the featured guest of St. Luke Community United Methodist Church for its Feb. 18 Senior Saints of Wisdom Sunday. The 97-year-old Lee has been working toward the creation of a national Juneteenth museum to extend recognition of the day commemorating slavery’s end in the U.S. CBS News Texas staff report.
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Holston Conference
Conference celebrates bishop’s 90th birthday
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Retired Bishop Richard Looney, who served as the first bishop of the South Georgia Conference, celebrated his 90th birthday on Feb. 14. Looney’s home Holston Conference and its “re:Brand” podcast marked the occasion with a video in which the bishop recounts some of his most memorable stories. Timothy Jones has the story and video.
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Watch video
PRESS RELEASES
United Women in Faith
Women invited to apply for grant
NEW YORK — Lay women ages 21 to 35 who wish to travel and study abroad are invited to apply for the Theressa Hoover Community Service and Global Citizenship Award. Applications will be accepted until July 9. Priority will be given to projects involving climate or racial justice.
Read press release
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.
Discipleship Ministries
Addressing concerns around AI
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Artificial intelligence could be an exciting way to enhance our work, but some are concerned that it will put more stress on workers, including church pastors, to increase productivity. The Rev. Scott Hughes, executive director of congregational vitality and intentional discipleship at United Methodist Discipleship Ministries, reminds us that the Bible resists the notion that people are merely means of production and profit.
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RESOURCES
Emory University
Bishop speaks on Korean Christian spirituality
ATLANTA — Wisconsin Conference Bishop Hee-Soo Jung will serve as Candler’s 2023-24 Alonzo L. McDonald Family Chair on The Life and Teachings of Jesus and Their Impact on Culture. In this role, Jung will present public in-person lectures at 11 a.m. U.S. Eastern time Feb. 28 and 4 p.m. March 20 at Cannon Chapel sanctuary on Emory’s Atlanta campus. In addition, Jung will present a public lecture, “Korean Christian Spirituality: Its Trace and Scope,” at 7 p.m. March 21 at Korean Church of Atlanta in Duluth.
Learn more and register
United Methodist Communications
Volunteer for ethnic leader panels
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — United Methodist Communications is seeking people in leadership roles within local United Methodist churches to participate in upcoming ethnic leader panel discussions. Panelists will be invited to take part in online surveys and focus groups throughout the year. People may volunteer for the agency’s Latino leader, Asian leader and/or Black leader panels. Additional panels will be introduced soon.
Black leader panel
Latino leader panel
Asian leader panel
RECENT HEADLINES
United Methodists embrace Amy-Jill Levine
Living up to the Sojourner Truth moniker
EVENTS
Monday, Feb. 26-Tuesday, Feb. 27
BEYOND a Conference
Wednesday, March 6-Saturday, March 9
Black Methodists for Church Renewal 57th General Meeting
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