Mississippi Annual Conference

Members of four annual conferences in the U.S. Northeast cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala., where police attacked peaceful marchers on March 7, 1965, on what is known as Bloody Sunday. The visit was part of the group’s July 12-19 Civil Rights Journey, a tour of sacred sites of the Civil Rights Movement. Photo by Jeannie Schott, Western Pennsylvania Conference.

United Methodist tours explore civil rights struggles

Churches, conferences and universities are promoting advocacy against racism and encouraging reflection on the ongoing struggles for racial justice by sponsoring pilgrimages to historic sites.

Church History

“A boy at Gulfside Waveland, Miss.” is the original description of this undated photo taken at Gulfside Assembly in Waveland, Miss. The historic African American camp, founded in 1925, was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Photo courtesy of Gulfside Assembly.

Gulfside Assembly 20 years after Katrina

Gulfside Assembly was wiped out by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, but the spirit of this special place can still be felt today.

Disaster Relief

The Rev. Terry Lynn Hilliard talks about the challenges people in her Mississippi community faced after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Hilliard stepped into the role of United Methodist disaster response coordinator for the Mississippi Gulf Coast area and also directed the construction of the volunteer center at Gulfside Assembly. Video image by Lilla Marigza, UM News.

Disaster coordinator recalls Katrina

Mississippi pastor recalls how Hurricane Katrina touched the hearts of both survivors and volunteers.

Disaster Relief

Marylin Mestayer explains that while she lost her home in Hurricane Katrina, her 150-year-old church remained standing. Main Street United Methodist in Bay St. Louis, Miss., became a vital part of the recovery of the community after the 2005 disaster, housing several families. Video image by Lilla Marigza, UM News.

Mississippi church sheltered families during Katrina

Members of a historic church in Bay St. Louis recall the storm that destroyed their homes but spared their church.

Sign up for our newsletter!

Subscribe Now