Texas Annual Conference

Bishop Scott Jones, who presided over the 12th annual gathering of the Laos Samphan Methodist Church mission in Vientiane, Laos, celebrates Holy Communion on Sept. 1. Members from across the country gathered Aug. 30-Sept. 4 for the first such gathering in Laos since the mission officially started in 2006. Photo by Thomas E. Kim, UM News.

Mission celebrates its first gathering in Laos in 16 years

The event brought together nearly 200 members for the ordination of new leaders, lectures, worship and other celebrations.

Faith Stories

Damon Neal, a member at Dallas Indian United Methodist Church, believes every stroke of his painting, "A Window to Heaven" was inspired by the Holy Spirit," which also led the artist to find healing for his grief. Photo courtesy of Dallas Indian United Methodist Church.

Healing through a Spirit-filled 'Window to Heaven'

Mourning the loss of his father and brother, Damon Neal is finding healing in a mural he is painting at Dallas Indian United Methodist Church he calls “Window to Heaven.” Neal, a Native American, believes God is taking “every negative thought I had and ... putting it into a positive."

Violence

People react outside the Willie de Leon Civic Center in Uvalde, Texas, where students had been transported from Robb Elementary School after a shooting that left 19 children and two teachers dead. Photo by Marco Bello, Reuters.

Grieving, praying after attack on school

United Methodists are praying for devastated families and a traumatized community after the murder of 19 children and two teachers. The Council of Bishops president is urging laity and clergy to “go on the offense” to stop mass shootings.

Mission and Ministry

Texas Conference Bishop Scott Jones and the Rev. Jill Daniel (standing with Jones) visit with children and supervisors at the new Methodist Children’s Center in Linden, Texas. Jones has made child welfare a conference priority, and Daniel leads the conference’s effort to plant child care centers in underserved areas. Photo by Sam Hodges, UM News.

Conference takes on 'child care deserts'

Texas Conference partners with local churches to start child care centers in underserved areas, with a focus on literacy, health and discipleship.

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