Daily Digest - April 4, 2016

“This is my first trip to Zimbabwe. I wanted to come and see God's work and am humbled by the experience.” — Claire Burrill, 90, on her visit to a school in Zimbabwe.

 

Multi-campus church pastor to lead Discipleship Ministries

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — The Rev. Junius Boyd Dotson, senior pastor of a 3,500-member multi-campus church in Wichita, Kansas, will take the helm of United Methodist Discipleship Ministries. The former top executive of the agency resigned abruptly in January. Vicki Brown reports.
Read story and post a comment

 

Maryland church partnership helps Zimbabwe school

MUREWA, Zimbabwe (UMNS) — Pupils, parents and members of the community at Mashambanhaka Secondary School celebrated the construction of two classroom blocks by Community United Methodist Church in Crofton, Maryland. Eveline Chikwanah has the story.
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Methodist delegation to meet with Pope Francis

LONDON (UMNS) — Representatives of Methodist denominations, including The United Methodist Church, will meet with Pope Francis as part of a series of events April 5-7, marking the opening of the new Methodist Ecumenical Office in Rome.
Read press release

 

60 days of prayer for GC2016

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMC.org) — The Rev. Tom Albin, dean of The Upper Room, explains why all United Methodists should join the 60-day effort to pray for General Conference 2016. “Our denomination will only be as healthy as the prayer life of all of our people,” Albin says.

Watch video
Read UMNS story

 

Kids line up for ʽSomebody’s Darling’

DALLAS (UMNS) — “Somebody’s Darling” is the catchy name of an after-school tutoring program founded by Warren United Methodist Church and its pastor, the Rev. S. Dianna Masters. The program reaches kids in one of Dallas’ toughest neighborhoods, and has a waiting list.

Read North Texas Conference story

 

Six months after the floods

CHARLESTON, S.C. (UMNS) — Six months after storms and flooding in South Carolina, many churches, homes and businesses are still struggling to put the pieces back together. Some, like Trinity United Methodist Church, didn’t flood but were damaged by the heavy rains. Jessica Brodie reports for the Advocate.

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Ecumenical staff officer to retire

WASHINGTON (UMNS) — The Rev. Stephen J. Sidorak Jr., ecumenical staff officer for the Office of Christian Unity and Interreligious Relationships of the Council of Bishops, is retiring effective July 1. He is taking an immediate leave of absence to address medical issues.
Read press release

 

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.

 

Thursday, April 7

Webinar “Kids of All Ages Together” — 6 p.m. CDT. This webinar will provide suggestions and guidelines for effectively reaching children of varying age levels who are grouped together. Elizabeth Christie, a Christian educator in The United Methodist Church, will lead. Details  

 

Webinar from United Methodist Men to end domestic violence — 7 p.m. CDT. Gil Hanke, top executive of United Methodist Men, will discuss MEND, a primary prevention initiative started by the YWCA that is dedicated to ending violence against women and girls by engaging and educating men and boys. To register, email Martha Davis at [email protected].

More upcoming United Methodist events


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