A moment of peace

I would not have thought it possible, in the confusion, tight schedules, and multiple task-
oriented responsibilities of General Conference, to find a quiet, spiritual moment drifting
out from the middle of the exhibit hall in Tampa, Florida.

I’m pretty sure Donna Pewo stopped time for a moment as her Cheyenne hymn rung
out clear and strong, and then slowed to a consistent, resonant beat as she prepared
her spirit to speak about her work. Donna is a candidate who will be commissioned
on Sunday afternoon, April 29, at Palma Ceia United Methodist Church in Tampa as
a Church and Community Worker. Her mission assignment is with the Clinton and El
Reno Church and Community Center in Clinton, Oklahoma, a ministry of the Oklahoma
Indian Missionary Conference.

Take a moment, and let her take you to another place.


Like what you're reading? Support the ministry of UM News! Your support ensures the latest denominational news, dynamic stories and informative articles will continue to connect our global community. Make a tax-deductible donation at ResourceUMC.org/GiveUMCom.

Sign up for our newsletter!

Subscribe Now
Human Sexuality
Jan Lawrence addresses Reconciling Ministries Network’s convocation held July 24-27, 2025, at First United Methodist Church in downtown Madison, Wis. Lawrence is retiring after serving as Reconciling Ministries Network’s executive director for nearly a decade. Many United Methodists credit her with helping to lead the denomination to a new day. File photo by Joscie Cutchens, UM News.

LGBTQ leader retires after pivotal changes

Jan Lawrence kept United Methodist advocates organized after the denomination strengthened bans against LGBTQ people and helped lead the way toward the longtime bans’ repeal.
Social Concerns
The Rev. Stephanie Vader. Photo courtesy of the author.

Pastor urges halt to troops’ presence in DC

The Rev. Stephanie Vader, a United Methodist pastor in Washington, D.C., raises alarms about the increasing number of National Guard troops in the nation’s capital.
Local Church
Bishop Daniel Lunge (center) of the Central Congo Episcopal Area speaks during a roundtable on communication in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, as East Congo Bishop Antoine Kalema Tambwe (left) and North Katanga Bishop Mande Muyombo look on. The bishops emphasized that communication is an essential tool for making disciples and building peace in geographically complex and conflict-ridden areas. Photo by Chadrack Tambwe Londe, UM News.

Charting new path for African communication

Bishops, communicators and United Methodist Communications staff gathered to develop a creative strategy to keep local churches in the Mid-Africa Regional Conference connected despite power outages, poor roads and more than 450 regional languages.

United Methodist Communications is an agency of The United Methodist Church

©2026 United Methodist Communications. All Rights Reserved