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Daily Digest - January 16, 2019

NEWS AND FEATURES

Youth joyfully lead at Tongan church

WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah (UMNS) — While many United Methodist churches declare youth are the future leaders of the denomination, they are leaders now at Tongan United Methodist Church. Kathy L. Gilbert has the story and Kathleen Barry has the photos.
Read story and see photos
 
Zimbabwe faces violence, record fuel prices
HARARE, Zimbabwe (UMNS) — United Methodists in Zimbabwe are calling for prayers after protests, sparked by soaring fuel prices, led to a government crackdown. The unrest has left shuttered businesses, canceled flights and a blocked internet. Heather Hahn and Kudzai Chingwe report. 
Read story

NBC 5
Church pays off school lunch debts
ROYSE CITY, Texas — Royse City First United Methodist Church has a tradition of giving its Christmas offering to charity. This past Christmas, the 200-member church raised more than $10,000 to pay off the lunch debts of low-income children in the local school district. That means those kids will continue to be eligible for a hot meal, not just a sandwich. Diana Zoga reports.
Read story

Religion News Service
Losing faith can be worry for dementia patients

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Some people of faith worry they might forget about God, says geropsychologist Benjamin Mast at the University of Louisville. But what remains intact is the part of the memory that’s held longest, he added, which can include hymns and creeds that people may have recited for years. “They will remember how to say the Lord’s Prayer when they won’t remember anyone’s name,” said the Rev. Rebecca Church, a United Methodist pastor. Adelle M. Banks reports.
Read story


COMMENTARIES

One Church Plan is ‘formula for chaos’

LANCASTER, Pa. — The Rev. Joseph F. DiPaolo, a 2019 General Conference delegate, argues that the One Church Plan will merely shift denominational conflict over homosexuality to local churches. He sees other major problems with the plan. “It is a formula for chaos, conflict and accelerated decline,” he writes in an essay posted by the Wesleyan Covenant Association.
Read commentary


RECENT HEADLINES

Simple Plan supporters talk strategy

Deciding what budget cuts mean for ministry

 

EVENTS

Sunday, Jan. 20
Vespers & All That Jazz celebrates the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

 



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