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Daily Digest - April 03, 2013

"We are creating new leadership for Africa. We seek to produce brave, bold, determined leaders to change the continent of Africa." - Fanuel Tagwira, vice chancellor of Africa University, at the United Methodist-related school's 20th anniversary celebration.

Africa U celebrates its first 20 years

MUTARE, Zimbabwe (UMNS) - In what seems a short 20 years, Africa University has grown from a school with classes in refurbished farm buildings to a world-changing university with more than 4,000 graduates throughout Africa and the world.
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UMTV: Professional comic turned preacher

DENVER (UMNS) - The Rev. Jerry Herships went from show biz to the soul biz. As the founder of Afterhours Denver, the United Methodist pastor now takes church to bars and taverns around town, and AfterHours members in turn are taking Christ's love into their communities. On April 7, Herships has organized an event called "PBJ FOR HUNGER - Spread the Love" to encourage churches across the United States to make sandwiches to share with the homeless in their community.
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Oklahoma churches play parts in 'Home Run' film

TULSA, Okla. (UMNS) - The movie "Home Run," opening in theaters April 19, draws on some Oklahoma United Methodist influences - especially in Tulsa. "Home Run," rated PG-13, tells the story of Cory Brand, a struggling baseball star forced to return home. He finds hope in the Christ-based Celebrate Recovery program. Holly McCray of the Oklahoma Annual (regional) Conference and Asbury Tidings magazine of Asbury United Methodist Church in Tulsa, a host site of Celebrate Recovery, sharethe film's United Methodist connections.
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United Methodist teen: 'I will keep being nonviolent'

BOISE, Idaho (UMNS) - Aaron Fretwell, 15, and others members of Hillview United Methodist Church, committed themselves to nonviolence and making peace during Lent. They found power in a purple bracelet, as KBOI-TV reports.
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Churches find foot-washing to be humbling yet uplifting

MIAMI (UMNS) - The annual tradition of washing the feet of the homeless at First United Methodist Church, Miami, is grounded in the story of Jesus bathing the feet of his disciples. But it got its start much later - in the early 1990s, when a homeless, barefoot woman was electrocuted in a rainstorm. Susan Green of the Florida Conference Connection shares the story.
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Earth Day Sunday resources available

WASHINGTON (UMNS) - Resource materials from the United Methodist Board of Church and Society, working with the National Council of Churches Eco-Justice Working Group, will help congregations celebrate and promote stewardship of God's creation on Earth Day Sunday, also known as the Festival of God's Creation. This year's celebration is set for April 21, but can occur on any Sunday.
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WCC member joins Brazil's National Truth Commission

GENEVA (UMNS) - Magali do Nascimento Cunha, a Central Committee member of the World Council of Churches and professor at the Methodist University of So Paulo, has joined Brazil's National Truth Commission as a researcher. The commission will investigate human rights violations in Brazil that occurred between 1948 and 1988, including the years of military dictatorship in that country.
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