Local Church

Church Growth
The Rev. Anjie Peek Rivers officiates at a baptism Aug. 9 for the Nichols family at Atlanta’s Eastside Church, one of nine small, thriving United Methodist congregations featured in a new report by Wesleyan Impact Partners. In “Flourishing Small Congregations,” the Texas-based nonprofit challenges The United Methodist Church to see small churches as assets. Eastside also celebrated its 15th anniversary Aug. 9. Photo by Karina Aragon-Buchanan, Eastside Church.

How small congregations can flourish

Small churches are an asset for The United Methodist Church, argues a new report from Wesleyan Impact Partners. The report profiles nine U.S. congregations that are outsized in their community impact.
Theology and Education
An English edition of a Korean United Methodist small-group curriculum on Jesus’ parables is expanding the resource’s reach. The Rev. Timothy Myunghoon Ahn’s “He Spoke to Them Using Parables: The Parables of Jesus” is designed for small groups in United Methodist congregations. Photo by the Rev. Thomas E. Kim, UM News.

Small-group resource crosses language, cultural boundaries

An English edition of a Korean United Methodist small-group curriculum on Jesus’ parables is expanding its reach to English-speaking churches, bilingual families and congregations beyond the Korean community.
Faith Stories
Jay Cardwell. Photo courtesy of the author.

Remembering 9/11 at John Street church

A longtime member and church trustee looks back on visiting the United Methodist church in Lower Manhattan on the day of the Sept. 11 attacks and how United Methodists responded.
Congregations
Worshippers sing traditional Shona hymns during a revival organized by the Women’s Fellowship of The United Methodist Church’s United Kingdom District, July 2-5 in Blackpool, England. The annual Chiringanyanza Revival brings together Zimbabwean United Methodists from across the U.K. for worship, fellowship and spiritual renewal. Photo by Priscilla Muzerengwa, UM News.

Church keeps UK Zimbabweans connected to home

The United Methodist Church’s growing United Kingdom District demonstrates that when faith crosses borders, it does not lose its roots.

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