“My granddaughter has a room to study, invite friends over and relax like other kids. I never believed I would be able to sweep a nice floor in my own house. God has given me my dream.” — Martha, on her new home built by the Center for Health and Hope and Maua Methodist Hospital.
TODAY’S HEADLINES
Constructing homes for AIDS orphans in Kenya
MAUA, Kenya (UM News) — After her parents died from AIDS, 12-year-old Jackeline had no choice but to live with her impoverished grandmother in a crumbling, dirt-floor shack in rural Kenya. With only the food supplied by neighbors and no opportunity for education, life was bleak. Now, five years later, the pair has a new home and new opportunities thanks to the Center for Health and Hope in Colorado. The house is one of more than 350 built by teams in collaboration with Maua Methodist Hospital. The Rev. Donald E. Messer has the story.
Read story
‘Africa University is in good hands’
MUTARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — Over 3,000 guests gathered to witness the installation of the Rev. Peter Mageto as Africa University’s fifth vice chancellor. In his inaugural address, Mageto paid tribute to the four vice chancellors who had gone before him. “As I stand here before you, the height you see is not only my own. I am standing on the shoulders of giants who cleared the path I am about to humbly follow,” he said. Eveline Chikwanah reports.
Read story
UM News: AU celebrates 30 years
UM News: New vice chancellor fulfills calling
Arkansas Conference
Church brings Halloween to neonatal ward
BAUXITE, Ark. — Sardis United Methodist Church found an innovative way to observe Halloween this year, providing tiny, carefully made costumes for babies in the neonatal intensive care unit of Little Rock’s Baptist Medical Center. The goal was to cheer staff and worried parents. Amy Ezell has the story.
Read story
South Carolina Conference
Pastor shares health journey to inspire others
GREER, S.C. — People with weight issues should take charge of their own health so they can be better servants of God, said the superintendent for the Hartsville District. The Rev. Telley Lynnette Gadson spoke during a four-city “Build a Better You” wellness and education tour organized by Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century. Joined by the Rev. Michael L. Bowie Jr., the group’s national executive director, and other health advocates, Gadson has been sharing her health journey to inspire others. Jessica Brodie reports.
Read story
Rocky Mountain PBS
Iliff book sparks documentary
DENVER — The shameful tale of a history of Christianity book covered with the skin of a murdered Native American is the subject of a new documentary, part of the “Colorado Voices” series on Rocky Mountain PBS. The book — which was displayed for decades at United Methodist-related Iliff School of Theology — and its gruesome history have spawned a gathering of cultures to share perspectives and search for a path forward.
Read story and watch documentary
UM News: Facing up to a grotesque book at Iliff
RESOURCES
Discipleship Ministries
Webinar on pandemic lessons
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Rev. Ken Sloane will lead a free webinar at 6:30 p.m. U.S. Central time on Nov. 15 about the lessons learned by the church from the COVID-19 pandemic. Sloane is director of stewardship and generosity at Discipleship Ministries.
Learn more
Register
EVENTS
Friday, Nov. 4
United Methodist Theological Schools Fall Virtual Recruiting Fair
Monday, Nov. 21-Sunday, Dec. 18
Taking Back Advent: Moving Toward the Miraculous
TOP STORIES OF THE WEEK
Community rallies around barbershop evangelist
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — A faith journey that started on the mourner’s bench has helped barber Jake Sherrell bring to Christ hundreds of those who have visited his shop. Although the longtime member of Gordon Memorial United Methodist Church is battling stage 4 cancer, “his mind and his spirit are still on fire” for the Lord, his pastor said. Mike DuBose has the story and photos.
Read story
Churches urged to speak out against mass incarceration
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (UM News) — Attendees of the Oct. 19-22 National Summit on Mass Incarceration were urged to go back into their churches and communities and open conversations about ways to work for criminal justice reform. Joey Butler reports.
Read story
Mission celebrates its first gathering in Laos
VIENTIANE, Laos (UM News) — For the first time in the group's 16-year history, members of the Methodist mission in Laos celebrated their annual gathering in the country they are serving. The event brought together nearly 200 members for the ordination of new leaders, lectures, worship and other celebrations. The Rev. Thomas E. Kim has the story.
Read story
Church court declines to take up bishop's case
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodist Bishop Minerva Carcaño has been suspended under complaint since March. While not naming the bishop, The United Methodist Church’s top court released a memorandum on Oct. 26 that declined to take up the bishop’s case at this stage of the judicial complaint process. Four Judicial Council members joined in a dissent. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
New bikes, Bibles help pastors spread Gospel
TUNDA, Congo (UM News) — Pastors in rural Congo can now get around easily and save travel time with new bicycles purchased through support from Crosspoint Church, a multi-campus United Methodist church in Northwest Florida. The pastors also received Bibles to boost their evangelism efforts. Chadrack Tambwe Londe has the story.
Read story
Liberians reflect on Africa University's impact
MONROVIA, Liberia (UM News) — Africa University students and alumni in Liberia credit the school with mentoring them to contribute to The United Methodist Church and their home country. Graduates are serving at churches, universities and in government roles. E Julu Swen has the story.
Read story
UM News: AU graduates share their gifts
Multiple ways to follow bishop elections
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The five United Methodist jurisdictions in the U.S. will hold bishop elections Nov. 2-5. That will be followed by a bishop election in the Central Conference of Central and Southern Europe on Nov. 16-20, and the election of three bishops in the Philippines Central Conference on Nov. 24-26. UM News, collaborating with conference communicators, will provide full coverage of the elections, including voting updates, features on newly elected bishops and a wrap-up on episcopal assignments. You can sign up to receive updates via Facebook Messenger by typing “follow” at https://www.messenger.com/t/umnews. You also can check out coverage at umnews.org and follow United Methodist News on Twitter @UMNS (hashtag #UMCElections) and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/umnews.
TODAY’S HEADLINES
Constructing homes for AIDS orphans in Kenya
MAUA, Kenya (UM News) — After her parents died from AIDS, 12-year-old Jackeline had no choice but to live with her impoverished grandmother in a crumbling, dirt-floor shack in rural Kenya. With only the food supplied by neighbors and no opportunity for education, life was bleak. Now, five years later, the pair has a new home and new opportunities thanks to the Center for Health and Hope in Colorado. The house is one of more than 350 built by teams in collaboration with Maua Methodist Hospital. The Rev. Donald E. Messer has the story.
Read story
‘Africa University is in good hands’
MUTARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — Over 3,000 guests gathered to witness the installation of the Rev. Peter Mageto as Africa University’s fifth vice chancellor. In his inaugural address, Mageto paid tribute to the four vice chancellors who had gone before him. “As I stand here before you, the height you see is not only my own. I am standing on the shoulders of giants who cleared the path I am about to humbly follow,” he said. Eveline Chikwanah reports.
Read story
UM News: AU celebrates 30 years
UM News: New vice chancellor fulfills calling
Arkansas Conference
Church brings Halloween to neonatal ward
BAUXITE, Ark. — Sardis United Methodist Church found an innovative way to observe Halloween this year, providing tiny, carefully made costumes for babies in the neonatal intensive care unit of Little Rock’s Baptist Medical Center. The goal was to cheer staff and worried parents. Amy Ezell has the story.
Read story
South Carolina Conference
Pastor shares health journey to inspire others
GREER, S.C. — People with weight issues should take charge of their own health so they can be better servants of God, said the superintendent for the Hartsville District. The Rev. Telley Lynnette Gadson spoke during a four-city “Build a Better You” wellness and education tour organized by Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century. Joined by the Rev. Michael L. Bowie Jr., the group’s national executive director, and other health advocates, Gadson has been sharing her health journey to inspire others. Jessica Brodie reports.
Read story
Rocky Mountain PBS
Iliff book sparks documentary
DENVER — The shameful tale of a history of Christianity book covered with the skin of a murdered Native American is the subject of a new documentary, part of the “Colorado Voices” series on Rocky Mountain PBS. The book — which was displayed for decades at United Methodist-related Iliff School of Theology — and its gruesome history have spawned a gathering of cultures to share perspectives and search for a path forward.
Read story and watch documentary
UM News: Facing up to a grotesque book at Iliff
RESOURCES
Discipleship Ministries
Webinar on pandemic lessons
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Rev. Ken Sloane will lead a free webinar at 6:30 p.m. U.S. Central time on Nov. 15 about the lessons learned by the church from the COVID-19 pandemic. Sloane is director of stewardship and generosity at Discipleship Ministries.
Learn more
Register
EVENTS
Friday, Nov. 4
United Methodist Theological Schools Fall Virtual Recruiting Fair
Monday, Nov. 21-Sunday, Dec. 18
Taking Back Advent: Moving Toward the Miraculous
TOP STORIES OF THE WEEK
Community rallies around barbershop evangelist
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — A faith journey that started on the mourner’s bench has helped barber Jake Sherrell bring to Christ hundreds of those who have visited his shop. Although the longtime member of Gordon Memorial United Methodist Church is battling stage 4 cancer, “his mind and his spirit are still on fire” for the Lord, his pastor said. Mike DuBose has the story and photos.
Read story
Churches urged to speak out against mass incarceration
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (UM News) — Attendees of the Oct. 19-22 National Summit on Mass Incarceration were urged to go back into their churches and communities and open conversations about ways to work for criminal justice reform. Joey Butler reports.
Read story
Mission celebrates its first gathering in Laos
VIENTIANE, Laos (UM News) — For the first time in the group's 16-year history, members of the Methodist mission in Laos celebrated their annual gathering in the country they are serving. The event brought together nearly 200 members for the ordination of new leaders, lectures, worship and other celebrations. The Rev. Thomas E. Kim has the story.
Read story
Church court declines to take up bishop's case
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodist Bishop Minerva Carcaño has been suspended under complaint since March. While not naming the bishop, The United Methodist Church’s top court released a memorandum on Oct. 26 that declined to take up the bishop’s case at this stage of the judicial complaint process. Four Judicial Council members joined in a dissent. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
New bikes, Bibles help pastors spread Gospel
TUNDA, Congo (UM News) — Pastors in rural Congo can now get around easily and save travel time with new bicycles purchased through support from Crosspoint Church, a multi-campus United Methodist church in Northwest Florida. The pastors also received Bibles to boost their evangelism efforts. Chadrack Tambwe Londe has the story.
Read story
Liberians reflect on Africa University's impact
MONROVIA, Liberia (UM News) — Africa University students and alumni in Liberia credit the school with mentoring them to contribute to The United Methodist Church and their home country. Graduates are serving at churches, universities and in government roles. E Julu Swen has the story.
Read story
UM News: AU graduates share their gifts
Multiple ways to follow bishop elections
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The five United Methodist jurisdictions in the U.S. will hold bishop elections Nov. 2-5. That will be followed by a bishop election in the Central Conference of Central and Southern Europe on Nov. 16-20, and the election of three bishops in the Philippines Central Conference on Nov. 24-26. UM News, collaborating with conference communicators, will provide full coverage of the elections, including voting updates, features on newly elected bishops and a wrap-up on episcopal assignments. You can sign up to receive updates via Facebook Messenger by typing “follow” at https://www.messenger.com/t/umnews. You also can check out coverage at umnews.org and follow United Methodist News on Twitter @UMNS (hashtag #UMCElections) and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/umnews.
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