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Daily Digest - April 12, 2022

“It is about being the hands and feet of Christ in the world. We serve as a bridge.”United Methodist Rev. Neelley Hicks, founder of Harper Hill Global, on educating pregnant women about hypertension in Congo.


NEWS AND FEATURES

Hypertension campaign saves lives in Congo

KAMINA, Congo (UM News) — Connections from as far away as Tennessee helped Mwange Assy deliver a healthy baby. She received lifesaving checkups because of a hypertension awareness campaign that is the result of a partnership between the North Katanga United Methodist Church, Harper Hill Global and other organizations. Kathy L. Gilbert has the story.
Read story

South Carolina Conference
Confirmation students ‘all fine’ after bus crash

AIKEN, S.C. — Nearly three dozen confirmation students from St. John’s United Methodist Church had a close call in March after their charter bus crashed on the way home. “The kids fell from one side of the bus to the other, which was frightening, but they were all fine, thank God,” the Rev. Tim McClendon said. Jessica Brodie reports.
Read story

Michigan Conference
Preparing for cross-cultural appointments

LANSING, Mich. — More preparation is being done for cross-cultural appointments in the Michigan Conference, said the Rev. Jerome DeVine, superintendent of the Mid-Michigan District. Since Michigan churches are most often white, there are many Black pastors being assigned to white churches. Culture, language, ethnicity and national backgrounds all play a role in the relationship of congregation and pastor, so advance work to address these issues is helpful. John E. Harnish has the story.
Read story


PRESS RELEASES

Ames Memorial United Methodist Church
Donated property doubles ministry’s assets

BALTIMORE — Ames Memorial United Methodist Church’s Resurrection Sandtown Project has received a significant donation of property. The Cook Family, owners of Northeastern Supply, have donated the company’s Sandtown store and a nearby warehouse, which more than doubles the project’s property assets. Supported by the Baltimore-Washington Conference, Resurrection Sandtown aims at revitalizing a struggling neighborhood with community input.
Read press release


COMMENTARIES
UM News includes in the Daily Digest various commentaries about issues in the denomination. The opinion pieces reflect a variety of viewpoints and are the opinions of the writers, not the UM News staff.

United Methodist Communications
Exploring God’s behind-the-scenes faithfulness

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The terms “loyalty” and “faithfulness” can be negatively associated with being bound, stuck or having lack of personal freedom, writes Madison Myers. But she looks to the story of Ruth and Naomi as an example of faithfulness and loyalty being noble characteristics. “When we are faithful to God and what God values, new possibilities and a better vision for our reality opens to us,” she writes.
Read commentary


RESOURCES

Religion and Race
Ideas for Native American Ministries Sunday

WASHINGTON — Since 1989, United Methodist congregations have observed the third Sunday after Easter as Native American Ministries Sunday — May 1 this year. The purpose is to elevate and support the contributions and voices of Native/Indigenous people in our church. The United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race has compiled suggestions for congregations and individuals wishing to honor native/indigenous people as well as offering a new downloadable infographic.
View resource


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