| “Memories from those chaotic days and fearful nights are written on my soul.” – Retired Bishop C. Joseph Sprague about his participation in Freedom Summer in Mississippi. |
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — Retired Bishop C. Joseph Sprague was a 25-year-old student pastor and father of two young children when he joined a small delegation from his Ohio seminary and traveled to Mississippi during the summer of 1964. What he experienced there “wrote a new song, a not-yet-achieved vision, on my heart,” Sprague says in a reflection for United Methodist News Service. Freedom rings for happy summer scholars NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — Freedom Schools in 29 states are helping more than 11,500 children develop a love for reading and gain extra self-esteem. Many of the schools were held in United Methodist churches like this one at Gordon Memorial United Methodist Church. The six-week summer schools are sponsored by the Children’s Defense Fund. Ukraine crisis affects UMC congregations KIEV, Ukraine (UMNS) — Missionary John Calhoun offers an update on the political crisis in the Ukraine and how local United Methodist congregations are bringing relief to families displaced by the conflict. Calhoun serves in Kiev (Kyiv) in ministry with The United Methodist Church in Ukraine. 42 become Global Mission Fellows MANILA, Philippines (UMNS) — Forty-two young adults were commissioned July 19 by the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries as Generation Transformation Global Mission Fellows. A typhoon forced the relocation of the service and other events of the United Methodist Global Young People’s Convocation. Hope is seeing young people answering call to missions PHILADELPHIA (UMNS) — Bishop Peggy A. Johnson, who leads the Eastern Pennsylvania and Peninsula-Delaware annual (regional) conferences, shares the stories of three young missionaries. “Nothing gives me more hope for the future of the church of Jesus Christ than to see young people be involved in mission work,” she writes. 2016 General Conference logo unveiled NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — The Commission on the General Conference has chosen a logo for the 2016 General Conference, developed by United Methodist Communications to complement the conference theme, “Therefore Go.” Stephanie Henry of the Upper New York Annual (regional) Conference chairs the Logo and Theme Committee. General Conference, which meets every four years, is the denomination’s top lawmaking assembly. N.C. church recognized for ‘Culture of Call’ LAKE JUNALUSKA. N.C. (UMNS) — The Foundation for Evangelism has recognized Denver (North Carolina) United Methodist Church with the 2014 Culture of the Call Award. This award is given annually to recognize one local congregation of The United Methodist Church with a history of helping young people age 35 or younger experience God’s call to full-time Christian service. The church currently has 22 youth considering a call to full-time ministry. |
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