Church fires: Damage, recovery, prevention

Mar 20, 2014

A Dec. 22, 2012, fire destroyed the sanctuary, office area and part of the fellowship hall of Gideon Grove United Methodist Church, Stokesdale, N.C. Photo by the Rev. Nancy Rankin.

During 2012 and early 2013, fire destroyed or damaged more than a dozen United Methodist church properties across the United States. Arson was the cause of at least five fires. The insured property value ranged from $10,000 to $3.3 million, but several churches lacked adequate insurance to cover full replacement costs. This special news series reported on the damage from those fires, the response to the affected congregations and what churches can do to protect themselves.

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Disaster Relief

United Methodists in countries bordering Ukraine continue to offer aid and encouragement to Ukrainian refugees. One United Methodist church in Poland is teaching Polish to Ukrainian refugees but also teaching Ukrainian to Poles who want to do their part toward better communications with the refugees. Ukrainian flag courtesy of Wikimedia; graphic by UM News.

New wrinkles in aid to Ukrainian refugees

United Methodist churches in countries near Ukraine rely on volunteers as they work with Ukrainian refugees, but they're also hiring Ukrainians for certain relief-related tasks. One church in Poland is teaching Polish to Ukrainian refugees but also teaching Ukrainian to Poles helping refugees.

Mission and Ministry

Lauren Przybyl, an anchor at Fox4 News in Dallas, and the Rev. Arthur Jones, senior pastor of St. Andrew United Methodist Church in Plano, Texas, host a March 21 benefit concert for Ukraine at the church. Since Russia's invasion of that country six weeks ago, more than $5 million has come into the United Methodist Committee of Relief for Ukraine-related humanitarian aid, and the total grows daily. Photo by Jenny Skinner.

United Methodists pass plate for Ukraine

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, denomination members have been busy and creative raising funds for humanitarian aid, with the United Methodist Committee on Relief reporting targeted donations of more than $5 million.

Disaster Relief

Kibambe Kazadi Gracia, a student at Mulungwishi Secondary School, stands in front of the girls' dormitory where part of the roof was blown off at Mulungwishi Mission, a United Methodist mission in the South Congo Episcopal Area. Photo by John Kaumba, UM News.

Storm destroys parts of church mission in Congo

Established in 1913 by Bishop John Springer, the United Methodist mission houses a women’s school, a medical clinic, primary and secondary schools, and the Methodist University in Katanga.