“The Lord is bringing us to Louisiana to Miss Betty to help get her in her home after 10 years. . . . She is not left out, she is loved and being taken care of.” — Tyler Colley, leading a team of volunteers from Wichita Falls United Methodist Church in Texas.
United Methodist free clinic arose from Katrina
NEW ORLEANS (UMNS) – A free clinic started by United Methodists after Hurricane Katrina is now open two nights a week with expansion plans that include an eye clinic. Kathy L. Gilbert and Mike DuBose have the story and photos.
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After the storm: Hope from small hands and big hearts
NEW ORLEANS (UMNS) – Hurricane Katrina swept Betty Johnson out of her east New Orleans home in 2005. United Methodist volunteers are completing repairs so she can finally return, 10 years later. Kathy L. Gilbert has the story, with photos by Mike DuBose.
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Rita: The forgotten storm
BATON ROUGE, La. (UMNS) – Thousands of residents in southwest Louisiana struggled for years to emerge from the devastation of Hurricane Rita, often called “the forgotten storm” by residents of the state. Betty Backstrom reports on how the church responded after Rita.
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Relief for those fleeing Washington fires
NEW YORK (UMNS) – Last summer, a wildfire scorched the back of Pateros Community United Methodist Church in Washington State and burned down its parsonage. This August, as fires once again devastate the drought-plagued western U.S., the church in Pateros is open 24 hours a day to those in need of shelter, food and a place to escape the smoke. Linda Bloom has the story.
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75 years of telling the United Methodist story
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) – Whether spotlighting the innovative ministry of a local congregation or reporting on a global campaign against a killer disease, United Methodist News Service has been chronicling the life of the denomination for 75 years. Rich Peck reports on the development of the news service as the authoritative source of information about the work of the church and the church’s response to such major events as desegregation in the 1960s, the 9/11 terrorist attacks in America and the 2004 South Asia tsunami.
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Seminar focuses on peace, reconciliation
LUMUMBASHI, Democratic Republic of Congo (UMNS) – Julie Ngwej said it was time to focus “our time and energy on activities that promote peace and justice, not on things that undermine us.” Ngwej was one of 65 participants from the South Congo Episcopal Area who attended the sixth United Methodist Board of Church and Society Culture of Peace and Reconciliation Seminar. Leonard Kabwita Kayombo reports.
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Children’s Ministry Forum offers spiritual renewal, education
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) – Leaders of children’s ministries will find opportunities for worship, spiritual renewal, continuing education and more at the Children’s Ministry Forum. The forum, Rock On! Renew, Discover, Respond, is co-sponsored by United Methodist Discipleship Ministries and will be hosted Nov. 17-19 by First United Methodist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas. It is designed for children’s ministry leaders in congregations with at least 300 in worship, although leaders from congregations of all sizes are welcome to attend.
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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.
Deadline to register for online course "United Methodism 101" from United Methodist Communications – Course offered Sept. 2 to Oct. 14 on the denomination's history, theology, governance, ministries and challenges. $9.99. Details
Early-bird deadline to register for "Great Expectations for Boomers and Beyond" Conference – Thursday-Saturday, Oct. 22-24 at First United Methodist Church in Winter Park, Florida. The gathering aims to equip church leaders to cultivate the spiritual gifts of older adults as disciples of Jesus Christ. Missy Buchanan, adult advocate and author, and Marc Middleton, founder of the Growing Bolder web-based media group, will be speakers. $100 by Sept. 1. Details
You can see more educational opportunities and other upcoming events in the life of the church here.
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