Daily Digest - October 18, 2018

"This is service for the kingdom. If we plant a seed in their hearts it is going to mean something in the long run. Twelve years ago, when I was a district superintendent, I had one man come up to me and say, 'You were the pastor who gave us sandwiches.'" — Bishop Felipe Ruiz Aguilar of The Methodist Church of Mexico on the church's work on the border.

NEWS AND FEATURES

Love of Christ extends to immigrants living on street
MEXICALI, Mexico (UMNS) — Plaza Mariachi is not the family-friendly place it once was. But the plaza is still a place where Christians are offering food for the bodies and souls of immigrants living in deplorable conditions. Kathy L. Gilbert has the story and Mike DuBose has the photos. Read story

Church in Nigeria sees membership boom
JALINGO, Nigeria (UMNS) — By the year 2030, The United Methodist Church in Nigeria expects to have more than 2 million professing members. Over the past 10 years, the Nigeria Episcopal Area witnessed a 15 percent increase annually in church membership, and church leaders say that trend is likely to continue. The Rev. Ande I. Emmanuel reports.
Read story

Alabama-West Florida Conference
Conference responds to Hurricane Michael
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama-West Florida Conference Bishop David Graves and conference leadership have been in the Panama City, Florida, area and will continue to visit areas damaged by Hurricane Michael in the coming weeks. In-conference emergency response teams are cleaning debris in the areas damaged by Hurricane Michael.
Read update
Donate to U.S. Disaster Response

Rio Texas Conference
Teams needed for Texas flood response
SAN ANTONIO — Persistent rains across much of Texas have caused major flooding of the Llano River. Homes nearby have been damaged, and the Rio Texas Conference is sending early response teams and asking for help from teams in other conferences. The United Methodist Committee on Relief recently approved a $500,000 grant to help the conference address persistent flooding problems.
Get volunteer information
New UMCOR grants target crisis areas, basic needs

First patients treated at Liberia drug rehab center
CARTERVILLE, Liberia (UMNS) — Prayer has replaced cocaine in the life of former addict Romeo "Jean Papi" Sonpon, one of the first people to be treated at the New Life Recovery Center, a 20-bed center built by The United Methodist Church. E Julu Swen reports.
Read story

Texas Conference
Technology in worship: Friend or foe?
HOUSTON — Churches have varied approaches to screen time in worship. Sherri Gragg reports on the decisions of Holy Family and Deer Park United Methodist churches - only 20 miles apart but with very different ways of handling tech, from using bulletins to the latest in interactive software.
Read story

Board of Global Ministries
One family in mission around the world
ATLANTA — The United Methodist Board of Global Ministries commissioned a new international group of missionaries and approved stipends to 238 mission workers in their own countries during its Oct. 11-13 fall meeting. Christie R. House reports on the closing worship and commissioning service, and Elliott Wright reports on the $811,705 in grants to workers in 51 countries.
Read about commissioning service
Read about grants to mission workers

PRESS RELEASES

Higher Education and Ministry
Agency appoints new higher education staff
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry has appointed the Revs. Mark Forrester and Tammy Gieselman to posts in the agency's Division of Higher Education. Forrester will be assistant general secretary and Gieselman will serve as director of Schools, Colleges and Universities.
Read press release

RECENT HEADLINES

McLaren urges churches to get in alignment
Paths collide for immigrants, border agents

EVENTS

Thursday, Oct. 25-Saturday, Oct. 27 2018 Breaking Barriers: HIV/AIDS Ministry Conference