Outreach

Social Concerns
Ola Williams sorts through donated produce at the Willow Community Food Pantry in Willow, Alaska. Williams serves as director of the pantry, a ministry of Willow United Methodist Church. 2023 file photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Mission agency, churches work to fill gaps

The United Methodist Church’s mission agency is stepping up with grants to help fill food pantry shelves. Churches also are striving to support those going without pay during the shutdown.
Social Concerns
Volunteers bag apples at Neighbors Pantry at Anaheim United Methodist Church, about two miles from Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif. Like food pantries across the U.S., the United Methodist ministry has seen demand rise this year and is bracing for more with the suspension of SNAP benefits. Screengrab courtesy of the California-Pacific Conference via Vimeo by UM News.

Food ministries sound alarm on rising needs

Even before the federal shutdown, United Methodist ministries across the U.S. faced surging demands. With the suspension of federal food assistance, church pantries plan to step up. But they will need help.
Faith Stories
Bishop Frank Beard uses fishing metaphors to launch his new evangelism program, Catching Like Jesus Ministries, during a sermon at Elkhart Faith United Methodist Church in Goshen, Ind. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Eyesight fading, bishop envisions new role as evangelist

After glaucoma forced him to step down from overseeing a conference, United Methodist Bishop Frank Beard is launching a new ministry as an evangelist. He is using his love of fishing to hook new disciples.
Mission and Ministry
Rumbidzai Munetsi  of Divine Grace Bakery separates freshly baked buns into batches for sale at Hunyani United Methodist Church in Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe. Munetsi is a member of the church, where group members meet to bake on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Photo by Eveline Chikwanah, UM News.

Bakery ministry empowers women in Zimbabwe

Divine Grace Bakery, funded by a United Women in Faith grant, is helping to alleviate poverty by teaching women to bake and sell their products.

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