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A congregation of seven sings during worship at Oakton United Methodist Church outside Clinton, Ky. Pastor Laura Vincent plays the piano behind the altar. Small, rural churches struggled through the coronavirus pandemic, but many of them are now enjoying the return to in-person services and looking to the future.

Rural churches emerging from coronavirus

Small, rural churches struggled through the coronavirus pandemic, but many of them are now enjoying the return to in-person services and looking to the future.

Editor's Picks

Human Rights

We Are One Family: Personal Encournters with Racism is a series of commentaries of personal experience with racism and the intersection of faith and justice. Hands image by truthseeker08 courtesy of Pixabay; graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News.

We Are God's Family: Personal Encounters with Racism

Racism underlies many significant issues, such as hunger, discrimination and disparities in education and income. As people around the world struggle with racism, personal stories are helping change hearts and minds.

Global Health

Ashlee Hand receives a COVID-19 vaccination from EMT Archie Coble during a clinic at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Charlotte, N.C., in April. Health experts say many people trust their faith leaders to address their concerns about getting a COVID-19 vaccination.

Churches have role in overcoming vaccine hesitancy

People mistrustful of other institutions may still trust their faith leaders to address their concerns about getting a COVID-19 vaccination.

General Church

Former United Methodist Bishop James E. Dorff is welcomed in Kamina, Congo, as part of a delegation that traveled from the U.S. in observance of World Malaria Day in 2010. Dorff died June 7. He was 73. File photo by Lynne Dobson.

Former bishop known for 'reconciling spirit'

United Methodists remember James E. Dorff for his role in the formation of what is now the Rio Texas Conference, his leadership in a variety of ministries and ability to bring people together. He died June 7.

Latest

Evangelism

The Rev. David Petty, shown in the inset image at lower right, plays the Mass Effect video game online. Petty, senior pastor at St Paul’s United Methodist Church in Colorado Springs, Colo., has been in ministry with the gaming community since 2017. UM News screenshot from YouTube.

Online gamer ministry offers unique outreach

Local Church

Members of Emmaus United Methodist Church in Richmond, Va., gather for a group photo before the COVID-19 pandemic. A church member who is a registered nurse helped lead a vaccination effort that immunized 100% of the congregation. Photo courtesy of Emmaus United Methodist Church.

Nurse leads Korean church’s vaccine ministry

Evangelism

The Rev. Jacqui King (second from right) clasps hands and prays with people at the Discipleship Ministries booth during the 2019 meeting of Black Methodists for Church Renewal in Atlanta. Photo courtesy of King.

Connecting with people through prayer

Mission and Ministry

Community members leave with bundles of food and sanitation supplies after a distribution at Murewa Center United Methodist Church outside Harare, Zimbabwe. United Methodist Women, The Nyadire Connection and Harare East District have joined hands to help nearly 800 families struggling with food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo by Kudzai Chingwe, UM News.

Groups help alleviate hunger in Zimbabwe

Brood X cicadas are currently a common sight and sound on the grounds of Trinity United Methodist Church, in Germantown, Maryland. The church is in the background. Photo courtesy of the Rev. Bonnie Scott.

Cicadas show up for church, testing clergy

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