“My house and all my belongings were transformed into lava. I thank God because I am alive.” — Mirindi Shamavu, a member of Majengo United Methodist Church in Goma, Congo.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Volcano eruption in Congo hits church, homes
GOMA, Congo (UM News) — United Methodist leaders are assessing the damage following the eruption of the Mount Nyiragongo volcano, which swept away a church and many homes. Philippe Kituka Lolonga reports.
Read story
Trove of Methodist treasures comes to SMU
DALLAS (UM News) — Southern Methodist University’s Bridwell Library will soon be home to the entire World Methodist Museum collection, including John Wesley’s traveling pulpit and a number of his handwritten letters. Heather Hahn writes about some of the treasures of Methodism included in the collection.
Read story
Ask The UMC
Celebrating Korean pioneers in Methodist history
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Ask The UMC remembers two pioneering Koreans in Methodist history: The Rev. Ju-sam Ryang, the first Korean Methodist bishop, and Esther Kim Pak, the first Korean Methodist female doctor.
Read story
Read more Ask The UMC
Texas Conference
Prayer nets inspiring church interest
KILGORE, Texas — A fresh way to generate prayers and introduce people to the church is growing in Texas. At St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, “prayer nets” placed at the front and back of the church encourage people to put prayer requests in a box and tie a ribbon on the net. Church members pray for each card received. Non-church members are making some of the requests, and it’s hoped that they are encouraged to check out the rest of the church experience. Lindsay Peyton reports.
Read story
South Georgia Conference
Mom’s love of music lives on in church bells
DOUGLAS, Ga. — Douglas First United Methodist Church dedicated a new carillon bell system. The Kimbrel family gave the bell system in memory of Gwen Carver, organist Jane Kimbrel’s mother and a lifelong member of the congregation. Kara Witherow reports on the new carillon, which offers Douglas’ first church-bell chimes.
Read story
Michigan Conference
Chancellor helps conference with legal issues
LANSING, Mich. — The chancellor for the Michigan Conference says he has worked on more than 200 cases and given more than 500 opinions of legal issues facing the church. Attorney Andy Vorbrich has served 11 years as chancellor. Glenn M. Wagner has the story.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
Discipleship Ministries
Grants available from Discipleship Ministries
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Churches wishing to strengthen outreach to racial minorities can apply for up to $10,000 from United Methodist Discipleship Ministries. Sept. 1 is the deadline to apply for a Racial Ethnic Local Church Concerns grant.
Read press release
Apply for a grant
RESOURCES
South Carolina Conference
Pastor’s book urges ‘tri-pandemic’ preaching
LAKE CITY, S.C. — The Advocate Press has released a new book by the Rev. Amiri B. Hooker titled “Preaching in the Midst Of: How Black Preaching Has Changed in the COVID-19 Pandemic.” His book, written while he was sick with COVID-19, addresses the need for “great Black preaching in the midst of a tri-pandemic of disease, racism and poverty.”
Read press release
To order book
RECENT HEADLINES
United Methodists support cleanup in Angola
Protests mount against Cal-Pac bishop
EVENTS
Tuesday, May 25
Webinar: “Misogyny, Racism and Asian American Women”
Sunday, June 6-Monday, June 7
West Ohio Annual Conference
NEWS AND FEATURES
Volcano eruption in Congo hits church, homes
GOMA, Congo (UM News) — United Methodist leaders are assessing the damage following the eruption of the Mount Nyiragongo volcano, which swept away a church and many homes. Philippe Kituka Lolonga reports.
Read story
Trove of Methodist treasures comes to SMU
DALLAS (UM News) — Southern Methodist University’s Bridwell Library will soon be home to the entire World Methodist Museum collection, including John Wesley’s traveling pulpit and a number of his handwritten letters. Heather Hahn writes about some of the treasures of Methodism included in the collection.
Read story
Ask The UMC
Celebrating Korean pioneers in Methodist history
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Ask The UMC remembers two pioneering Koreans in Methodist history: The Rev. Ju-sam Ryang, the first Korean Methodist bishop, and Esther Kim Pak, the first Korean Methodist female doctor.
Read story
Read more Ask The UMC
Texas Conference
Prayer nets inspiring church interest
KILGORE, Texas — A fresh way to generate prayers and introduce people to the church is growing in Texas. At St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, “prayer nets” placed at the front and back of the church encourage people to put prayer requests in a box and tie a ribbon on the net. Church members pray for each card received. Non-church members are making some of the requests, and it’s hoped that they are encouraged to check out the rest of the church experience. Lindsay Peyton reports.
Read story
South Georgia Conference
Mom’s love of music lives on in church bells
DOUGLAS, Ga. — Douglas First United Methodist Church dedicated a new carillon bell system. The Kimbrel family gave the bell system in memory of Gwen Carver, organist Jane Kimbrel’s mother and a lifelong member of the congregation. Kara Witherow reports on the new carillon, which offers Douglas’ first church-bell chimes.
Read story
Michigan Conference
Chancellor helps conference with legal issues
LANSING, Mich. — The chancellor for the Michigan Conference says he has worked on more than 200 cases and given more than 500 opinions of legal issues facing the church. Attorney Andy Vorbrich has served 11 years as chancellor. Glenn M. Wagner has the story.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
Discipleship Ministries
Grants available from Discipleship Ministries
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Churches wishing to strengthen outreach to racial minorities can apply for up to $10,000 from United Methodist Discipleship Ministries. Sept. 1 is the deadline to apply for a Racial Ethnic Local Church Concerns grant.
Read press release
Apply for a grant
RESOURCES
South Carolina Conference
Pastor’s book urges ‘tri-pandemic’ preaching
LAKE CITY, S.C. — The Advocate Press has released a new book by the Rev. Amiri B. Hooker titled “Preaching in the Midst Of: How Black Preaching Has Changed in the COVID-19 Pandemic.” His book, written while he was sick with COVID-19, addresses the need for “great Black preaching in the midst of a tri-pandemic of disease, racism and poverty.”
Read press release
To order book
RECENT HEADLINES
United Methodists support cleanup in Angola
Protests mount against Cal-Pac bishop
EVENTS
Tuesday, May 25
Webinar: “Misogyny, Racism and Asian American Women”
Sunday, June 6-Monday, June 7
West Ohio Annual Conference
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