"Ebola, for me, has been the gift that came wrapped as a plague." — Nyamah Dunbar on the need for more agriculture and better food security in Liberia.
Liberian sowing seeds for country’s future
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — Nyamah Dunbar’s calling to feed the people in her native land of Liberia collided with the worst Ebola outbreak in history. Jan Snider and Kathy L. Gilbert report about Dunbar’s efforts and how Ebola highlighted the need for Liberia to grow more of its own food.
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Church delivers food, water in wake of Ebola
MONROVIA, Liberia (UMNS) — The United Methodist Church in Liberia is providing hot meals, food and building water wells. Julu Swen writes about how the needs of many Liberians have increased because of the Ebola crisis.
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Pink hair and other tips for healthy youth ministries
BRADENTON, Fla. (UMNS) — For David Stump in Cocoa Beach, the secret is mission trips. For the Rev. Charley Watts in Moore Haven, it’s a pink coiffure — sported from the Sunday morning lectern. At a time when many U.S. churches struggle to attract young people, these youth ministry leaders in the Florida Conference share how they are drawing in new generations. Raymond Joseph reports for the Florida Conference.
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Missionary couple receives World Methodist Peace Award
ZURICH, Switzerland (UMNS) — Hugh and Shirliann Johnson, retired missionaries with the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, worked for peace and reconciliation in Algeria for more than 40 years. The couple was honored June 19 with the 2014 World Methodist Peace Award, presented by the World Methodist Council. Barbara Streit and Urs Schweizer report.
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Providing Strength for Service in combat zones
NEW YORK (UMNS) — The Rev. Richard Pusateri served as a United Methodist-endorsed chaplain for 30 years in the U.S. Navy, 16 of those years with the U.S. Marine Corps. As the senior Marine General’s chaplain, he visited some of the most remote outposts in Iraq and frequently found copies of the Strength for Service devotional books. He writes for United Methodist Men about the difference the devotions make.
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2 Montana churches close doors
BUTTE, Mont. (UMNS) — At the end of the 19th century, Cornish miners laid the cornerstone of Trinity United Methodist Church, while company “mine owners” were part of Mountain View United Methodist Church. Both churches are closing after a combined 254 years. They held farewell services July 5. Renata Birkenbuel reports for the Independent Record.
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Garrett-Evangelical offers community organizing doctorate
EVANSTON, Ill. (UMNS) — United Methodist Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary is launching a new Doctor of Ministry track in community organizing. Applications are due Oct. 1 to be part of the first cohort in the doctoral program, which begins January 2016.
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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.
Monday, July 13-Wednesday, Aug. 5
Your Ministry of Leading Worship 101, online course from BeADisciple.com — The course will focus on basic understandings of worship, gaining skills for leading worship and fulfilling requirements for lay speaker certification. Participants explore Christian liturgy and planning worship in various settings. This will be an overview of reading Scripture, leading prayer, distribution of the elements, and basic “do’s” and “don’ts” of effective worship leadership. This online course has been approved by United Methodist Discipleship Ministries as an advanced course in Lay Servant Ministries and is the “worship” component for lay speaker certification. 1 CEU also available. $80. Details.
Friday, July 17
Deadline to submit youth and young adult video and text for the 2016 General Conference — United Methodist youth and young people are invited to share their best personal stories, visions and innovations for the church, and two people will be selected to express their thoughts in person at the 2016 General Conference, the denomination's top lawmaking body. The messages from youth and young people about the church’s impact on their lives and their vision for the future can be either in the form of written text or 1-2-minute video presentations. Details.
You can see more educational opportunities and other upcoming events in the life of the church here.
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