“We are convinced that God manifests himself through people of goodwill. When I see my displaced brothers and sisters benefiting from the food and other (aid) sent by the church, it gives me joy.” — Kaswara Kilasi, on assistance for displaced families in East Congo.
NEWS AND FEATURES
UMCOR assists displaced families in East Congo
BENI, Congo (UM News) — Five hundred of “the most vulnerable displaced households” in northeastern Congo recently received food and other assistance from The United Methodist Church. Money from the United Methodist Committee on Relief’s International Disaster Response program helped purchase 38 tons of food for families who have fled insecurity in the region. Chadrack Tambwe Londe reports.
Read story
Encounter at a Nicaraguan dump proves life-changing
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (UM News) — During a mission journey to Nicaragua in 2009, James Barnett sat with a stranger in a city dump. Suddenly, he heard the words that upended his life and reshaped his future. Christina Ray Stanton has his story.
Read story
North Carolina Conference
Conference, churches help in power outage
VASS, N.C. — North Carolina Conference Disaster Ministries is working with local churches to help 45,000 residents of Moore County who recently lost electricity after a power plant went out, apparently from vandalism. The conference has distributed generators and brought solar power disaster response trailers to Vass United Methodist Church and Southern Pines United Methodist Church. The loss of power has been particularly concerning because of cold weather.
Read story
Greater Northwest Area
Bishop Escobedo-Frank grounds herself in outreach
PHOENIX — Raised in a town on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border, Bishop Dottie Escobedo-Frank says she has always looked at what’s happening in the neighborhood. “I won’t be a bishop who sits in Zoom meetings all the time — I hope.” The new bishop is set to start leading the California-Pacific Conference on Jan. 1. Kristen Caldwell has this profile of Escobedo-Frank.
Read story
The Georgetowner
United Methodist journalist honored
WASHINGTON — The Washington Association of Black Journalists plans to honor United Methodist Adelle M. Banks with its Lifetime Achievement Award on Dec. 10. Banks is the projects editor and a national reporter for Religion News Service, where she has worked for 27 years. She also is a member of Asbury United Methodist Church in the U.S. capital.
Read story
COMMENTARIES
UM News includes in the Daily Digest various commentaries about issues in the denomination. The opinion pieces reflect a variety of viewpoints and are the opinions of the writers, not UM News staff.
Ask The UMC
Is Christmas about peace and comfort?
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Peace and comfort are common themes at Christmas, but what do those words really mean for Christians? Ask The UMC’s Taylor W. Burton Edwards explores that question and notes the answer may be surprising. “Many of us may think about peace as either inner peace or the entire absence of war. And we may think of comfort as something we seek for ourselves. Christmas Season promises none of those things,” he writes.
Read commentary
RECENT HEADLINES
Bishop candidates created community over Zoom
Making the best use of church space
EVENTS
Monday, Jan. 9-Monday, Feb. 6
Online course: Helping Others Grow Through Their Grieving
Thursday, Jan. 19-Thursday, Feb. 9
Online course: 3 Steps to Engage Conflict Productively
Like what you're reading? Support the ministry of UM News! Your support ensures the latest denominational news, dynamic stories and informative articles will continue to connect our global community. Make a tax-deductible donation at ResourceUMC.org/GiveUMCom.