“My daughter was crying and I told her, ‘Honey, the church isn’t the building. The church is us.’”— Sharp Emmons, East End United Methodist Church member, on the devastation at the historic East Nashville church.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Tennessee tornadoes take lives, damage churches
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Three area United Methodist churches — East End and Braden Memorial in East Nashville and Dodson Chapel in Hermitage — were heavily damaged by one of the tornadoes that swept parts of the state early on March 3, resulting in at least 24 deaths. A report from the UM News staff.
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Read Bishop McAlilly’s statement
Missouri Conference
Program for single mothers expands
COLUMBIA, Mo. — A ministry to help single mothers has expanded from one to four churches since being founded in 2006 at Buckner United Methodist Church. The Baby Grace program gives away supplies such as diapers and clothing, and also develops supportive relationships with clients.
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Read about Baby Grace Camp
Florida Conference
Pastor-lawyer helps immigrants
MIAMI — The Rev. Janet Horman is a pastor and an immigration lawyer. For now she’s concentrating on her legal career as the director of Florida Justice For Our Neighbors. The United Methodist immigration ministry provides free or low-cost legal service to immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers. Ed Scott has the story.
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South Carolina Conference
UMW legislative day tackles variety of issues
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Attendees at the South Carolina United Methodist Women’s annual Legislative Advocacy Day heard about a number of issues, including education reform, voter rights and the economics of poverty, but one of the most compelling may have been Jerry Blassingame’s talk on mass incarceration. Raised in a broken home after his mother was murdered, Blassingame found himself in prison for selling drugs until a visit from a United Methodist pastor changed his life. Now he runs a nonprofit helping ex-prisoners. Jessica Brodie reports.
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RECENT HEADLINES
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EVENTS
Thursday, March 19
Webinar: Time to create a new church financial calendar?
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