“I hope I stand before God as a United Methodist, as a child of God, when God calls me in the future.” — Mangeum Choi, a lay leader of Korean United Methodist Church of Santa Clara Valley in California.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Korean United Methodists gather to celebrate spirituality
CHICAGO (UM News) — The 2023 special session of the National Association of the Korean American United Methodists was Oct. 2-5 in Northbrook, Illinois — its first in-person gathering since 2019. In his sermon at the opening worship service, Wisconsin Conference Bishop Hee-Soo Jung said, “The future of the church lies in reconciliation, acceptance, friendship, repentance and self-reflection.” The Rev. Thomas E. Kim reports.
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Global Ministries
Continued progress for agriculture initiative
ATLANTA — With severe grain shortages looming because of the Ukraine war and other factors, the Yambasu Agriculture Initiative continues to grow in importance as a way to ensure food security in Africa. The initiative was launched by the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries to help central conferences transform their land resources to support church programs and communities. Enterprises including cash crops, animal raising, fish farms, honey production and seed banks have met with measurable success across the continent. Christie R. House reports.
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UM News: Yambasu grant helps mission farms flourish
Minnesota Conference
Weaving harmful bags into helpful mats
BLUE EARTH, Minn. — At Hope United Methodist Church, two members started an initiative to weave plastic bags into sleeping mats for people who are homeless. After Joni Jenkins and Florence Hacklander learned that it takes plastic bags 1,000 years to degrade in a landfill, they acquired a special loom that can turn the bags into mats that are lightweight, flexible and provide a thermal barrier that repels bugs. Christa Meland has the story.
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Texas Conference
Pastor extends reach through podcast
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The Rev. Kefentse Risher was searching for a new way to reach others and landed on starting a podcast. Risher calls his podcast "The Vision Project," and it features in-depth interviews with a range of inspiring subjects. He took a break as he began his appointment at First United Methodist Church of College Station but will be gearing up again soon. Lindsay Peyton has the story.
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Check out podcast
PRESS RELEASES
United Methodist Men
Arnold to depart United Methodist Men
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Greg Arnold, top executive of United Methodist Men, is resigning from that position as of Nov. 10. Retired Bishop James Swanson, who currently serves as vice president of the board of United Methodist Men, will step in as the interim top executive. Arnold served in the post for two years. “I'm satisfied that we are leaving the commission better than we found it, prepared for 2024 and beyond as an organization,” Arnold said.
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Council of Bishops
Letter urges UN help for ethnic Armenians
WASHINGTON — An ecumenical collaboration, including the United Methodist Council of Bishops, has sent a letter to the United Nations secretary-general urging international action after Azerbaijan’s recent military assault on Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh. The letter seeks humanitarian relief in the contested region as well as help for Armenian refugees fleeing Azerbaijan’s attacks.
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Read letter (PDF)
Reuters: Explainer on the conflict
RESOURCES
Lakelands Institute
Online safety in a time of war
WASHINGTON — Four experts will give advice on how to minimize the harm children experience because of images of war and Hamas videos of hostages that the militant group has threatened to release to social media. The experts include the Rev. Neal Christie of the Baltimore-Washington Conference, a United Methodist conflict transformation consultant. The webinar is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. U.S. Eastern time on Oct. 19.
Read press release and register
RECENT HEADLINES
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EVENTS
Wednesday, Oct. 18
Finance and Administration webinar: Resources to Fuel Your Ministry
Monday, Nov. 27-Thursday, Dec. 21
Online course: Taking Back Advent — Moving Toward the Miraculous
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