Daily Digest - October 09, 2012

"In the church of Jesus Christ, we learnt a leadership model from Master Jesus. Christ came to reach those at the bottom to bring them to the top as evidenced in the scripture that says 'if I am lifted up, I will draw people to myself' (John 12:32)." - Bishop John Wesley Yohanna, the newly elected and consecrated leader of the Nigeria Episcopal Area.

Yohanna elected bishop of Nigeria

FREETOWN, Sierra Leone (UMNS) - The Rev. John Wesley Yohanna of the Mungo Dosso area in Nigeria has been elected a United Methodist bishop by delegates of the West Africa Central Conference. Yohanna, 49, succeeds Bishop Arthur Kulah who was recalled from retirement about five years ago to lead Nigeria Episcopal Area.
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After evil rears its head

LITTLETON, Colo. (UMNS) - As youth struggle to process a tragic event, churches can become havens of physical, emotional and spiritual comfort as well as a place for youth to ask questions and open up, reports Interpreter Magazine. That's been especially true in the wake of the movie theater shooting in nearby Aurora.
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Pastor 'spreading hope' for teens

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (UMNS) - The Rev. Gary Nelson, who almost lost his own son to suicide, now travels extensively to talk about teen depression and suicide, reports the Charleston Daily Mail. Suicide is second only to automobile accidents in killing teens.
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This is Mental Illness Awareness Week

Lon Morris seeks to sell property

JACKSONVILLE, Texas (UMNS) - Lon Morris College, a United Methodist-related two-year school, is seeking a judge's permission to sell a "substantial amount" of its property after filing for bankruptcy earlier this year, the Tyler Morning Telegraph reports.
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Dan Terry story to air on ABC

NEW YORK (UMNS) - The story of United Methodist Dan Terry, who was among 10 humanitarian aid workers assassinated in Afghanistan in August 2010, will air between Oct. 21 and Dec. 16 on participating ABC stations. Produced by MennoMedia and students at Eastern Mennonite University, "Weaving Life: The Life and Death of Peacemaker Dan Terry," shows how Terry set out to build bridges where "everyone else was blowing them up," says production consultant and storyteller Jonathan Larson. "He spans the chasms of suspicion, religious hatred and outright warfare, with patient bonds of trust and openness."
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'Best of mission' training

POWDER SPRINGS, Ga. (UMNS) - The mission conference "Beyond These Walls," which aims to help revitalize congregations through "best of the best" missions training, is scheduled Oct. 11-13 at McEachern United Methodist Church in Powder Springs. The United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, the Mission Society, World Methodist Evangelism and the International Leadership Institute are among the sponsors.
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Imagine No Malaria 'Days on the Hill'

WASHINGTON (UMNS) - The United Methodist Board of Churchand Society and the denomination's Imagine No Malaria campaign will be host to the church's annual (regional) conference leaders for a "Days on the Hill" gathering Dec. 2-5. At the same time, Imagine No Malaria will celebrate delivery of its one-millionth net.
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Blog: The 'why' of Communion

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - Whether we celebrate Communion in a park, in a bar or inside a church, we are not only remembering and recalling the life, death and Resurrection of Christ but we are also being re-membered. We are brought back again, writes Sophia Agtarap in a blog post on Communion.
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Commentary: Response to open letter to liberal or progressive friends

WASHINGTON (UMNS) - The Methodist Federation for Social Action, an unofficial progressive caucus, responds to the Rev. A.W. Martin, a longtime caucus member, who urged fellow progressives to consider amicable separation from The United Methodist Church.
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