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Daily Digest - February 22, 2017

“My father was shot right in front of me. In the confusion of fleeing from my village ... I lost contact with my mother.” — Mohamed Emmanuel Nabieu, program director of the Child Rescue Center in Bo, Sierra Leone, on how he came to the center as a child. 

Rescuing children in Sierra Leone

BO, Sierra Leone (UMNS) — When Mohamed Emmanuel Nabieu was 8 years old, his father was shot during the Sierra Leone civil war. Separated from his mother, Nabieu ended up at the United Methodist Church’s Child Rescue Center. Now, he’s one of five staff members helped by the center as children. Phileas Jusu has the story. 
Read story

Immigration raid outside church sows fear

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Hispanic men leaving a homeless shelter at Rising Hope United Methodist Mission Church. The seemingly random arrests have sent fear through the nation’s immigrant communities. 
Read Washington Post story
Watch NBC4 report

Commentary: Bishop writes about swimsuit issue

DES MOINES, Iowa (UMNS) — Iowa Conference Bishop Laurie Haller is a longtime subscriber to Sports Illustrated, but she’s not a fan of its annual swimsuit issue. She wrote an open letter to the magazine, criticizing it for the “sexual objectification of women” and calling for a swimsuit issue that features ordinary people who are making a difference, male and female.
Read commentary

Conferences join to help Congo rape survivors

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — The Tennessee, Memphis and California-Pacific conferences are collaborating with The United Methodist Church in East Congo to address the needs of rape survivors. Congo Women Arise will provide shelter, counseling and long-term sustainability training. 
Read press release
Read UMNS story about rape survivors

Bishop Ough takes the plunge 

LAKE KORONIS, Minn. (UMNS) — Bishop Bruce Ough, who leads the Minnesota and Dakotas conferences, jumped into frigid Lake Koronis on Feb. 18 after United Methodists donated more than $10,000 for camp scholarships.
Watch video

Former atheist finds happiness as pastor

FALLSINGTON, Pa. — A former atheist who once saw Christians as hypocrites says that he’s happier than he’s ever been now that he’s serving God as a United Methodist pastor. The Rev. Joe Martin, pastor of Fallsington United Methodist Church, was interviewed by MeTV. 
Watch video

 

LOOKING AHEAD

Here are some of the activities ahead for United Methodists across the connection. If you have a United Methodist event to share, you can add it to the calendar with this submission form.

Monday, Feb. 27 to Monday, April 10

Online course on Spiritual Journaling — BeADisciple.com and Practical Resources for Churches are offering a six-week online course in which participants will explore the practice of spiritual journaling as they share their experiences with others involved in the practice. The course is based on the Upper Room book “Journaling: A Spiritual Journey” by Anne Broyles. Debbie Kolacki, a United Methodist Christian educator, will lead. The course is $75. Details 

See more United Methodist events


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