“In some parts of the state, we are still in the emergency phase. The water is still there.” The Rev. Darryl Tate, director of disaster preparedness for the Louisiana Conference.
Relief after spring storms in U.S.
NEW YORK (UMNS) — Late winter and early spring storms have caused widespread damage across the U.S. and, though the extent of damage is different in every community, no disaster is small for those affected. Support from the United Methodist Committee on Relief is making a difference, reports Susan Kim.
10 church faux pas that turn off millennials
MOBILE, Ala. (UMCOM) — Don’t hate on social media; do be deeply spiritual. These are just two tips the Rev. Jeremy Steele offers for ministering with millennials, based on social science research. Many of the faux pas he points out are turnoffs no matter your generation.
Pastor a star on YouNow
COMMERCE, Texas (UMNS) — The Rev. Greg Neal, pastor of First United Methodist Church, Commerce, is a hit on the social media platform YouNow. He takes questions, often from troubled youth, and offers answers from a Christian perspective. His nightly broadcasts average 600-800 viewers from around the world. The Rev. Sheron Patterson reports for the North Texas Conference.
Postcards from Korea
DAEJEON, South Korea (UMNS) — A delegation from the Baltimore-Washington Conference, including Bishop Marcus Matthews, recently visited the conference’s covenant partners in the Nambu (South) Conference of the Korean Methodist Church. Melissa Lauber, director of communications, shared a postcard each day of the visit, offering snapshots of Korean Methodism.
Pastor’s book becomes prison church’s study
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (UMNS) — A United Methodist church housed in a women’s prison got a boost this Lent through the United Methodist connection. Lane Gardner Camp of the Memphis Conference reports on how the women of Grace Place United Methodist Church ended up with a Lenten study based on a United Methodist pastor’s book.
Do extroverts dominate General Conference?
DALLAS (UMNS) — Some people get energy from being around and talking with others, while other people prefer to hang back and listen. The Rev. Ted A. Campbell, professor of church history at Southern Methodist University’s Perkins School of Theology, wonders if the denomination’s top lawmaking assembly makes room for the quieter people to communicate their ideas.
Looking ahead
Here are some of the activities ahead for United Methodists across the connection. If you have an item to share, email [email protected] and put Digest in the subject line.
Tuesday, April 12
Webinar “Organizing an Annual P.R.A.Y. (Program of Religious Activities with Youth) program” — 7 p.m. CDT. Chris Karabinos, assistant Scout coordinator of the North Georgia Conference, and Larry Coppock, national director of scouting ministries, will discuss how Johns Creek United Methodist Church built and manages its annual program. Details
Thursday, April 14
Webinar “Worship for All Ages: Pentecost” — 6-7 p.m. CDT. Want to try something new for Pentecost? The Rev. Karen Ware Jackson, a Presbyterian pastor, will share ideas for new worship experiences and ways to make time-honored traditions more meaningful and accessible. The ecumenical group Practical Resources for Churches offers this webinar. Details
More upcoming United Methodist events
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