“I am so happy and excited and thankful to the church for coming together to help in my time of need.” — Tawanda Chandiwana, who was held 56 days in the Philippines, on his return to Zimbabwe.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Detained missionary arrives home in Zimbabwe
HARARE, Zimbabwe (UMNS) — A United Methodist missionary held 56 days in a detention center in the Philippines has arrived home in Zimbabwe. Another missionary detained in the Philippines has returned to the U.S., while a third is working out her departure from Manila. Eveline Chikwanah has the story and the Rev. Taurai Emmanuel Maforo has photos.
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United Methodist mayor shot dead
GENERAL TINIO, Philippines (UMNS) — Filipino United Methodists have strongly condemned the July 3 killing of a United Methodist mayor, Ferdinand Bote. Gladys Mangiduyos reports.
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Zimbabwe students pay it forward as mentors
HARARE, Zimbabwe (UMNS) — After United Methodists in Maryland offered him hope and a chance to succeed, Albert Mashambanhaka, 22, started paying it forward. His ministry, Partners for Success, reaches more than 250 secondary-level boarding school students. Chenayi Kumuterera has the story
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Virginia Conference
Church makes 'safe zone' for young people
RICHMOND, Va. — In the past five years, the Rev. Timothy Kirven estimates he has officiated of the funerals of more than 100 people under 25. His United Methodist congregation and the campus ministry at Virginia Union University are working to help young people with a “Safe Zone” on Friday nights. Forrest White reports.
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Michigan Conference
How a church found renewal
MANISTEE, Mich. — The Michigan Conference has supported 167 congregations through its Vital Church Initiative. Manistee United Methodist Church is one of them. Kay DeMoss reports how the congregation has renewed its ministry of making disciples.
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PRESS RELEASES
Discipleship Ministries and Publishing House
New hymnal gets revised timeline
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Discipleship Ministries and The United Methodist Publishing House, the two agencies working with the denomination’s Hymnal Revision Committee, announced a plan to revise the timeline for work on the hymnal.
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COMMENTARIES
Native American Comprehensive Plan
Looking at the past and fighting for the 7th generation
TUCSON, Ariz. — “U.S. government practices to separate families was wrong historically, and it is wrong today,” writes Bethany Printup-Davis, a United Methodist member of Tuscarora Indian Nation. She writes about the experiences of Native American children torn from their families and how she sees history repeating itself.
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Iowa Conference
Finding God in the flood
DES MOINES, Iowa — Courtney Glienke, a staff writer with the Iowa Conference, reflects on the impact of floods on her fiancé and on the wider community. “God is good, and we will make it through this,” she writes.
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RECENT HEADLINES
2 of 3 detained missionaries leave Philippines
Global health missionary honored for 23 years of service
EVENTS
Monday, July 9
Artist’s reception for “Our Chaotic Nature: Rebuilding Our Brokenness”
Monday, July 9-Friday, Aug. 3
Online course: Journaling with Your Camera
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