“God put us in this building in this location for a reason. We are in a perfect place to do what we do – feed the body and the soul.” – The Rev. Judy Longo, local pastor for Seashore Mission in Biloxi, Mississippi.
Homeless shelter feeds bodies and souls
BILOXI, Miss. (UMNS) – Hurricane Katrina destroyed Seashore Mission, but it has relocated and serves more than 200 meals, three days a week, to the poor and homeless. Kathy L. Gilbert and Mike DuBose have the story and photos.
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Monday: Historic Gulfside is re-imagining its role for the future.
Death of young woman in Sierra Leone sparks protests
FREETOWN, Sierra Leone (UMNS) – United Methodist women in Sierra Leone have joined with women’s rights, religious and civil society leaders to protest the brutal death and gang rape of a 17-year-old. Phileas Jusu reports.
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Technology helps gives women a voice
WASHINGTON (UMNS) – Revi Sterling says women in developing nations rarely have smart phones — if they have a phone at all. "Women have a lot of things to say and often, only men have the technology,” she says. Sterling works with NetHope to improve connectivity among humanitarian organizations in developing countries and areas affected by disaster. How access to technology can empower women is one of her main focus areas. Sterling is a speaker at the upcoming Game Changers Summit, Sept. 17-19. The event in Nashville, Tennessee, is hosted by United Methodist Communications. Joey Butler reports.
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Learn more or register for Game Changers
Argentine Methodist leader offers praise to WCC
BUENOS AIRES (WCC) – Aldo M. Etchegoyen, bishop emeritus of the Evangelical Methodist Church of Argentina, praised the support of the World Council of Churches in the struggle for human rights during the years of dictatorship in Argentina. He spoke during an Aug. 25 visit by the Rev. Olav Tveit Fyske, WCC top executive, and the Rev. Gloria Ulloa, WCC president for Latin America and the Caribbean.
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WCC speech in Argentina
Church finds renewal in diversity, outreach
COLUMBIA, S.C. (UMNS) – Once a predominantly white church with an aging congregation, College Place United Methodist Church today gives new meaning to the words “come as you are.” With roughly 100 members—including families from Africa, recovering addicts, senior citizens and transgendered parishioners — College Place has become significantly more diverse in the past few years. Porsche Barton reports for the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate.
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Agency offers toolkit for unified branding
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) – United Methodist Communications is offering a new online toolkit that makes it easy for churches, conferences, agencies and other denominational entities to adopt unified branding. “Connecting with the United Methodist brand in a more consistent way promotes visual harmony and reduces confusion,” said Dan Krause, chief executive of United Methodist Communications. The toolkit addresses fonts, colors and the Cross and Flame, official logo of the denomination.
Check out online toolkit
Church steps up for food pantry
WESTON, W.Va. (UMNS) – A partnership with St. Matthew United Methodist Church of Weston gave the Lewis County Food Pantry new life. Last month the pantry fed 200 local families, or about 500 people. Laura Harbert Allen of the West Virginia Conference has the story.
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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.
Thursday, Sept. 3
Free webinar "What does Wesleyan Small-Group Ministry Look Like?" — 1 p.m. EDT. United Methodist Discipleship Ministries discusses how to bring some of John Wesley's key ideas into today's ministry. Details
Friday, Sept. 4
Early-bird registration deadline for the Leadership Institute at the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas — The pre-institute will be Wednesday, Sept. 30 and the institute will be Thursday-Friday, Oct. 1-2. This mainline church training event brings together clergy, church staff and volunteers who share a passion for renewing the church. The gathering includes more than 80 different ministry workshops in a variety of ministry areas. Before or on Sept. 4, registration is $45 per participant for the pre-institute and $149 per participant for the institute. Special rates for participants 28 and younger. Details
You can see more educational opportunities and other upcoming events in the life of the church here.
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