"Women are God's sacred gift to the world and must be treated with respect and dignity" — Jefferson Knight, who organized a protest over rising rape cases in Brewerville, Liberia.
Concern grows over rape in Liberia
BREWERVILLE, Liberia (UMNS) — United Methodists are protesting a growing wave of rapes in the Brewerville community of Liberia. A march called for government attention to a recent brutal rape that resulted in the death of a 17-year-old girl — one of 18 such deaths over the past four years. Julu Swen has the story.
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Church takes on after-school program
WHITE RIVER, S.D. (UMNS) — White River United Methodist Church had unused building space during the week, so it stepped forward to be the home of an after-school program run by volunteers and funded by donations. Now 20 to 35 kids head there after the school bells ring and have a couple of hours of safe play, as well as learning enrichment and Bible stories. The Dakotas Conference reports.
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New leaders join Discipleship Ministries
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — New leaders in the areas of adult discipleship, research and strategic evaluation, music resources and congregational vitality are joining the staff at United Methodist Discipleship Ministries.
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Grants aim to help make disciples
HUGO, Okla. (UMNS) — A clergy couple, pastoring different churches in southeast Oklahoma, looks forward to helping new people become disciples of Christ through the Oklahoma Conference’s New People New Places grant program. One grant will support toy making and another will help fund mentoring for preteen and teen girls. But as Chris Schultz reports for the conference, these activities are just the start of the churches’ disciple-making work.
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Conference looks at new generation of seniors
WINTER PARK, Fla. (UMNS) — Today’s grandmas and grandpas stay healthy and active longer than their forebears. They continue to have a deep spiritual faith, but their needs and interests have changed. The Florida Conference and First United Methodist Church in Winter Park will present a conference Oct. 22-24 designed to help both clergy and laity minister to the growing over-50 population. Sept. 1 is the early-bird registration deadline. Raymond Joseph reports for the Florida Conference.
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Commentary: 3 myths about evangelism
INDIANAPOLIS (UMNS) — Evangelism is not something we do to someone but something we share, writes the Rev. Kimberly Reisman. The theologian, who is executive director of World Methodist Evangelism, tackles this and other problematic myths in a commentary for Seedbed.
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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.
Tuesday, July 21
Deadline to register for "United Methodism 101" online course — United Methodist Communication course on July 22-Sept. 2 offers a self-paced overview of United Methodist history, structure, beliefs and challenges. $9.99. Details.
Deadline to RSVP for Robert M. Pitzer Award banquet, sponsored by The DisAbility Ministries Committee of The United Methodist Church — 6 to 9 p.m. CDT Friday, July 31 at Lovers Lane United Methodist Church, 9200 Inwood Road in Dallas. The committee will honor United Methodist Women for the group offering “The Church and People with Disabilities” as a Mission U study in 2014 and 2015. Philadelphia Area Bishop Peggy Johnson will be among the guests. Tickets are $15. Details.
You can see more educational opportunities and other upcoming events in the life of the church here.
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