“Humper assumed the episcopacy at a very challenging time when Sierra Leone was going through civil war. ... His faith and honesty helped him to effectively guide the Commission (on Truth and Reconciliation) to bring together victims and perpetrators in one room and in some cases lead to forgiveness and reconciliation.” — Bishop Daniel Wandabula, on the late Bishop Joseph C. Humper.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Bishop Humper remembered as advocate for peace
HARARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — Retired United Methodist Bishop Joseph C. Humper, who died last month at age 81, helped to restore peace following civil war in his country. Colleagues said Humper was an influential mentor who developed clergy and lay leaders on the African continent. Eveline Chikwanah has the story.
Read obituary
Reach Council of Bishops press release
Holston Conference
Churches send mission kits to African partners
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The annual Hands-on Mission Project came together June 5-6 in the parking lot at Cokesbury United Methodist Church. Holston Conference churches and districts brought food, school and health supplies they had collected to be packed into shipping trailers bound for United Methodist missions in Zimbabwe and Liberia. Annette Spence has the story.
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Baltimore-Washington Conference
Data ministry tool equips churches in making disciples
FULTON, Md. — Have you ever wondered if there’s a United Methodist church near yours that has a feeding program? Or, perhaps your youth group needs a van for a field trip but you don’t know where to turn? The Discipleship Ministries Council of the Baltimore-Washington Conference has introduced a new interactive data tool that makes answering those questions — and more — a whole lot easier. The Rev. Erik Alsgaard has the story.
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Eastern Pennsylvania Conference
Project Restoration shows the connection in action
NORRISTOWN, Pa. — Since August 2020, Thelma Bruton had lived with a hole in her roof caused by Hurricane Isaias. FEMA declined her initial request to fund repairs, but once she was accepted and the roof was fixed, a United Methodist Volunteers in Mission team from the Susquehanna Conference in central Pennsylvania came to repair her damaged ceilings and walls. The Eastern Pennsylvania Conference’s Project Restoration requested and hosted them along with Drexel Hill United Methodist Church. John W. Coleman reports.
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No UM News Digest on June 19
There will be no Digest on Wednesday, June 19, due to the Juneteenth holiday. UM News wishes everyone a blessed Juneteenth. A special Thursday Digest will be delivered on June 20. Please feel free to download the above graphic and share on your social media channels.
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Learn more about Juneteenth
PRESS RELEASES
Foundation for Evangelism
33 United Methodist churches receive grants
LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. — The Foundation for Evangelism has chosen 51 churches and organizations in the Wesleyan tradition to receive an Equipping the Local Church grant. Of those selected for the 2024 grant cycle, 33 are United Methodist.
Read press release and see list
Discipleship Ministries
Understanding trends in church planting
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The basics of planting new churches have shifted the past few years. Trends include more leadership from laity, multiethnic congregations and less purchasing of new land and more occupying abandoned churches or shared space. Paul Nixon shares some tips.
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RECENT HEADLINES
Drought puts lives, church farms at risk in Zimbabwe
2024 annual conference reports
EVENTS
Thursday, June 20-Sunday, June 23
Mountain Sky Annual Conference
Monday, July 29-Wednesday, July 31
Black Clergywomen of The United Methodist Church Annual Meeting
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