Daily Digest - March 5, 2020

“The Lord saw me through it, and he’ll see me through the rest of it. It’s going to be very difficult.”The Rev. Jackie Wheeler, a 74-year-old retired United Methodist pastor who survived a March 3 tornado but lost his home. 
 

NEWS AND FEATURES

Retired pastor’s home lost to tornado

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The Rev. Jackie Wheeler, a 74-year-old retired United Methodist elder still serving a rural church, lost his home in a March 3 tornado. Cookeville and surrounding Putnam County suffered 18 fatalities in the storms that also swept through Nashville. Sam Hodges reports.
Read story

South Georgia Conference
Churches reach out with financial literacy classes

POOLER, Ga. — Nick Fletcher, a father of two with one on the way, wants more financial stability. He is among hundreds of participants who gather each week at a handful of South Georgia United Methodist churches that offer curriculum to teach financial well-being. Kara Witherow has the story.
Read story

Michigan Conference
New covenant for Michigan and Liberia
 
LANSING, Mich. — A covenant between the Michigan Conference and Liberian United Methodists affirms years of partnerships and pledges more of the same. Half the state — the former Detroit Conference — has been engaged in such a partnership with Liberia. The new agreement, authorized by the first session of the new conference last June, will involve United Methodists around the entire state. Kay DeMoss reports.
Read story


PRESS RELEASES

Church and Society
Using relationships to address poverty

ORLANDO, Fla. — The root causes of poverty were addressed during Rooted in Relationship, a three-day gathering hosted by the United Methodist Board of Church and Society. Experts in relationship-based justice ministries connected to share resources and what they learned.
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 the UM News staff.

Florida Conference
Cuba sister church affiliations recommended 
 
LAKELAND, Fla. — Joining forces with a Cuban Methodist church can revitalize an American church and ignite its members' energy and passion, says freelance writer Colleen Hart.  
Read commentary


RECENT HEADLINES 

The difficult process of church restarts



EVENTS

Monday, March 9-Friday, March 20 

Online class: Devotional Life in the Wesleyan Tradition

Like what you're reading? Support the ministry of UM News! Your support ensures the latest denominational news, dynamic stories and informative articles will continue to connect our global community. Make a tax-deductible donation at ResourceUMC.org/GiveUMCom.

Sign up for our newsletter!

Subscribe Now

UM News Digest - Feb. 21, 2025

Missionary strives to grow Madagascar church; Walking in the Wesleys’ footsteps; Top stories from the week

UM News Digest - Feb. 19, 2025

Program strengthens cross-racial ministry; Helping Congo flood survivors; Black Methodists’ contributions celebrated

UM News Digest - Feb. 17, 2025

Missionaries leave mark on agriculture, education; Liberians march for United Methodist Church; Responding to Los Angeles area fires

United Methodist Communications is an agency of The United Methodist Church

©2025 United Methodist Communications. All Rights Reserved