Daily Digest - September 23, 2021

“A good number of my followers use button phones. Others don’t own mobile phones. I needed to reach them all, especially when they required spiritual, emotional and material support.”The Rev. Josam Kariuki, Trinity United Methodist Church, Central District, on starting a church radio and TV station during the pandemic in Narok, Kenya. 

NEWS AND FEATURES

Church hits airwaves to reach vulnerable communities
NAROK, Kenya (UM News) — The Rev. Josam Kariuki of Trinity United Methodist Church, Central District, found a new way to livestream worship services and share messages of hope during the COVID-19 lockdowns. He started a radio and television station at the church to reach vulnerable communities with vital information. Faith Wanjiru has the story. 
Read story 

Baltimore-Washington Conference
Old Otterbein UMC celebrates 250th anniversary
BALTIMORE — When Methodist pioneer Francis Asbury arrived in the New World in 1771, members of a United Brethren in Christ congregation were waiting in Baltimore to meet him. On Sept. 19, church members and denominational leaders joined Bishop LaTrelle Easterling and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott in celebrating the 250th anniversary of that church, Old Otterbein United Methodist — the oldest church building in continual use in the city. Melissa Lauber reports.
Read story 

New 2021 annual conference reports posted
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodist News is posting 2021 annual conference reports. New this week are the Central Congo, Equator and Oriental, Serbia-North Macedonia-Albania and Northwest Texas conferences. 
Read reports 

PRESS RELEASES

United Methodist Communications
Church ad campaign wins Telly Award
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — United Methodist Communications and The LOOMIS Agency have been recognized by The Telly Awards for their advertising campaign, “Not the Only One,” which received a Bronze Award in the Regional TV category. The award program honors excellence in video and television across all screens.
Read press release 
Watch ads 

COMMENTARIES

UM News includes in the Daily Digest various commentaries about issues in the denomination. The opinion pieces reflect a variety of viewpoints and are the opinions of the writers, not the UM News staff.

Texas abortion law will save lives
WILSON, N.C. (UM News) — The Rev. Paul T. Stallsworth, president of the advocacy group Lifewatch, argues that the new Texas law on abortion expresses the will of the people of the state to limit abortion. He argues that Roe v. Wade has cost too many lives. 
Read commentary   

New law should prompt action, not just outrage
SAN DIEGO (UM News) — Lynn Parsons, a United Methodist laywoman, shares about the abortion she had in the 1970s and says Texas’ new restrictions on abortion should challenge the church to speak candidly and constructively about human sexuality.
Read commentary 

RESOURCES

South Carolina Conference
Book offers ‘More Stories of Racial Awakening’
COLUMBIA, S.C. — In light of the ongoing racial justice issues around the world, the Advocate Press has released a follow-up to its popular racial narratives anthology, “More Stories of Racial Awakening: Narratives of Changed Hearts and Lives from South Carolina United Methodists.” The book includes a foreword written by the South Carolina Conference’s Bishop L. Jonathan Holston. Jessica Brodie edited and wrote the introduction. 
Learn more  
To order  

RECENT HEADLINES

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