"I had some fears, but we all believed that God wanted us to feed the people who were isolated and hungry, and to give them hope by our presence." — The Rev. Anna Kaydor Labala.
Church brings hope to Ebola-infected families
GANTA, Liberia (UMNS) — Miller McAllister United Methodist Church is sending out a team of three pastors and two lay members to visit homes of people affected by Ebola which has killed nearly 4,500 in West Africa. The team brings food, soap and buckets, education and a word of hope from the church.
Christians call for dialogue in Hong Kong protests
HONG KONG (UMNS) — As student-led demonstrations continue for a third week in Hong Kong, Christians are repeating their calls for dialogue between the government and the protestors. Taking the lead is the Rev. Tin-Yau Yuen, head of the ecumenical Hong Kong Christian Council and The Methodist Church, Hong Kong and pastor of the Chinese Methodist Church near the demonstrations on Harcourt Road.
Mission agency to match $1 million on #GivingTuesday
NEW YORK (UMNS) — United Methodists are invited to extend the spirit of giving thanks during the Advent season by participating in the denomination’s #GivingTuesday. The United Methodist Board of Global Ministries will match every gift made online through The Advance on Dec. 2 – dollar for dollar up to $1 million. Banners, worship resources, graphics, toolkits, and other ideas are available for download on the mission agency’s #GivingTuesday resource page.
Chuck Knows Church explains lay servants
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — A lay servant may fill in for the pastor in the pulpit or take other leadership positions in the church. Chuck explains the role.
Finance agency, Vanco develop giving app for church
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — The General Council on Finance and Administration, in partnership with Vanco Services, has developed a convenient mobile app that will allow members and visitors to donate to their local church at any time. The app, called "Easy2Give," is now available as a free download for Android™ devices. An Apple®iOS version will be available by the end of the year.
Your congregation is your community
WASHINGTON (UMNS) — All too often, people involved in service ministries don’t take the time to know the people they serve, writes the Rev. Joe Daniels, a pastor and district superintendent in the Baltimore-Washington Conference. In a commentary for the United Methodist-related Lewis Center for Church Leadership, he suggests ways of building authentic relationships.
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, Oct. 20 to Friday, Oct. 31
“Living into the Answers: A Workshop on Personal Spiritual Discernment" — Online course from Upper Room. This workshop provides students with the opportunity to explore the process of discernment in an online setting. Details.
Tuesday, Oct. 21
Window on Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington — 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET, events for prospective students include a campus tour, discussion of degree programs and the chance to attend a class. Details.
You can see more educational opportunities and other upcoming events in the life of the church here.
Like what you're reading? Support the ministry of UM News! Your support ensures the latest denominational news, dynamic stories and informative articles will continue to connect our global community. Make a tax-deductible donation at ResourceUMC.org/GiveUMCom.