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Daily Digest - July 2, 2019


"If someone in your church is considering fostering, find ways to help them. Stand up and say, 'We're not letting them do this by themselves.'" — The Rev. Matt Johnson, adoptive father of siblings he and his wife fostered.

NEWS AND FEATURES

Clergy embrace becoming foster parents
ATHENS, W.Va. (UM News) — West Virginia has one of the highest rates in the nation of children removed from homes due to drug abuse, and one of the lowest rates of new homes for them. UM News profiles two couples who felt called to respond. This is the seventh in an ongoing series about churches in West Virginia dealing with the opioid crisis. Story by Joey Butler, photos by Mike DuBose.
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Michigan Conference
Church has sheltered immigrant family for 18 months

DETROIT — Ded and Flora Rranxburgaj came to the U.S. from Albania seeking asylum in 2001. Though allowed to stay on humanitarian grounds due to Flora’s multiple sclerosis, the family is not immune from arrest and deportation, so they sought sanctuary at Central United Methodist Church in January 2018. While they wait for the outcome of their case, the church has been their home ever since. John E. Harnish reports.
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East Congo church offers orphans brighter future
KINDU, Congo (UM News) — The United Methodist Church in East Congo helps orphans navigate difficult times with counseling, education and skills training. A key goal is self-sufficiency. Chadrack Tambwe Londe reports.
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Ask The UMC
Is the UMC in Canada, Australia, Latin America, Asia?

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The short answer to that question is, “It’s complicated.” From its beginning, the Methodist Church in the U.S. placed an emphasis on mission. The United Methodist Church currently has churches and annual conferences in the Philippines and Mongolia, and mission initiatives in Southeast and Central Asia and Honduras. Ask The UMC is a ministry of United Methodist Communications.
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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 the UM News staff.

Wesley calls modern Methodists to return to roots
DAYTON, Ohio (UM News) — Methodism co-founder John Wesley knew that the people called Methodist were themselves liable to spiritual slumber. Wesley would direct today’s church back to the intentional practices of the Methodist societies, writes the Rev. David F. Watson, seminary professor. He shares his views in “Many Voices, One Faith,” a forum for theological perspectives on topics of interest in The United Methodist Church.
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RECENT HEADLINES

7 Mississippi churches exit the denomination

Refugee church helps other refugees worship

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