Daily Digest - July 30, 2020

“It felt right to do it, but it was hard.”The Rev. Charlie Harrison, on again closing the campus of Kingston United Methodist Church, in Kingston, Tennessee, due to rising COVID-19 numbers locally.


NEWS AND FEATURES
 
Virus spikes close doors again at some churches

SAN ANTONIO (UM News) — Some United Methodist churches that had implemented safety protocols and carefully reopened for in-person worship have had to close again due to rising case numbers of the coronavirus. Sam Hodges reports.
Read story

Korean hospital sends 10,000 masks for missionaries
SEOUL, South Korea (UM News) — A top hospital in Seoul, founded by a missionary doctor, has donated 10,000 face masks to the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries for distribution to retired Methodist missionaries. The gift to the denomination’s mission agency recognizes the contributions of missionaries around the world, including Korea. The Rev. Thomas E. Kim has the story. 
Read story

New England Conference
How a church went from zero to 100% paid

LANCASTER, N.H. — In 2013, Christ United Methodist Church had not paid mission shares — giving that supports conference and denomination-wide ministries — for some years. The Rev. Richard Boyden writes about how the church went from owing about $20,000 to giving 100%.
Read story

Great Plains Conference
Pastoral intern has plenty to offer

OMAHA, Neb. — Peter Karanja is a pastoral intern at Hanscom Park United Methodist Church, but he brings a wealth of experience, including growing up in Kenya. This summer he has helped tend the church’s garden and he preached a sermon inspired by the garden’s rare burgundy sunflower. David Burke writes about Karanja’s life and ministry.
Read story

New 2020 annual conference reports posted 
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodist News is posting 2020 annual conference reports. North Carolina is new this week. 
Read reports


PRESS RELEASES

Perkins School of Theology
Perkins to distribute COVID-19 funds

DALLAS — The Henry Luce Foundation recently approved a $150,000 emergency grant to Perkins School of Theology. The United Methodist seminary, part of Southern Methodist University, will be distributing the funds to annual conferences and ministries as they cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read press release
 

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