“What I heard God tell me was, ‘Come sell for me. Come sell salvation.’ ” — The Rev. Arturo “Artie” Cadar on leaving a business career to become a licensed local pastor in The United Methodist Church.
Local pastors lead Hispanic outreach
HOUSTON (UMNS) — The United Methodist Church has struggled to reach the growing Hispanic population in the U.S., and some conferences are trying to change that by strategically using Hispanic licensed local pastors. Such pastors have recently come to outnumber Hispanic ordained elders in the denomination. The series “Trending Local: The Rise of United Methodist Local Pastors,” reported by Sam Hodges with photos by Mike DuBose, continues.
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Read the full series
Hispanic/Latino neighbors vital to church
COLUMBIA, S.C. (UMNS) — When she visits United Methodist churches across South Carolina, Jessica Brodie says she sees few of her Hispanic/Latino neighbors although they are a substantial part of the state’s population. In a commentary, she writes about the ways United Methodists might welcome more diversity and better reflect God’s kingdom.
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Church working for calm after street violence Liberia
GANTA, Liberia (UMNS) – In the wake of street violence, The United Methodist Church is leading a call for a day of fasting and prayer on Oct. 1, after a series of gruesome deaths in Ganta. Julu Swen has the story.
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Scholarship recipient applies lessons to life
BUFFALO, N.Y. (UMNS) — After watching her mother suffer a stroke due to taking incompatible prescribed medications, 19-year-old Lena Kuffuor-Afriyie decided to pursue a career in pharmacy. A World Communion Scholarship helped with that goal. United Methodists traditionally observe World Communion Sunday — a Special Sunday with offering — on the first Sunday in October, Oct. 4 this year. Heather Peck Travis reports for Interpreter magazine.
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Get resources for World Communion Sunday
Chuck Knows Church on World Communion Sunday
The future of United Methodist Communications
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — Even as it celebrates 75 years of history, United Methodist Communications is looking ahead toward new and more globally relevant ways to tell the church’s story. Meet the agency’s new top executive, the well-traveled Dan Krause, who is responsible for charting that future. Diane Degnan reports.
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Resources for blessing of animals
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — Does your church do a blessing of the animals? You can thank St. Francis, whose love of all of God’s creation has inspired countless churches to celebrate animals around the saint’s feast day on Oct. 4. Discipleship Ministries offers a liturgy for such a blessing.
Service for the blessing of animals
What St. Francis can teach United Methodists
Looking ahead
Here are some of the activities ahead for United Methodists across the connection. If you have an item to share, email [email protected] and put Digest in the subject line.
Thursday, Oct. 8
Free webinar “Setting Meaningful Goals for Discipling Men” — 7 to 8 p.m. CDT. Are men missing from your church? A “Kingdom-building” webinar will help you establish goals to involve men in discipleship based on your church’s mission, vision and values. The one-hour webinar is sponsored by the Commission on United Methodist Men. Details
Tuesday, Oct. 13
Deadline to submit 2016 General Conference petitions online — To be considered at General Conference, petitions must be submitted online no later than Oct. 13. The denomination's top lawmaking assembly next meets of May 10-12, 2016, in Portland, Oregon. Details on how to submit
You can see more educational opportunities and other upcoming events in the life of the church here.
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