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Daily Digest - January 11, 2017

"God dwells where there is peace and order. When you have peace and unity, there is nothing you can ask God that He will not provide." — Sierra Leone Bishop John Yambasu on the opening of a United Methodist church in a largely Muslim area of the country. 

New church in Sierra Leone Muslim area

PUJEHUN, Sierra Leone (UMNS) — A new church in southern Sierra Leone is the first United Methodist church to be built in the mostly Muslim Pujehun District. Phileas Jusu has the story. 
Read story 

6 tips on crowdfunding for churches

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — The United Methodist Church’s finance agency has published a guide for U.S. churches considering fundraising on crowdfunding sites. The General Council on Finance and Administration’s overall message: User beware. Heather Hahn reports. 
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Bishop White’s 2017 'Letter to Martin Luther King Jr.'

ATLANTA (UMNS) — In his annual “birthday letter” to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., retired United Methodist Bishop Woodie W. White tells how he almost didn’t write this year because he needed more time to sort out the results of the election.
Read letter 

Wesley’s health tips apply today … mostly

LONDON (UMC.org) — John Wesley, the historic founder of The United Methodist Church, is known for his caring for souls, but he also was passionate about keeping himself and others physically fit. Joe Iovino of UMC.org offers a glimpse of the equipment Wesley used to stay in shape. 
Read story 

Wespath joins effort on climate concerns

GLENVIEW, Ill. (UMNS) — Wespath Benefits and Investments, the United Methodist pension agency, has joined 13 major global investors representing $2.4 trillion in assets in launching the Transition Pathway Initiative. The initiative will assess how individual companies are positioning themselves for the transition to a low-carbon economy. 
Read press release 

Wilke to lead Scarritt Bennett

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — Sarah Wilke, formerly publisher and world editor of Upper Room Ministries, has been appointed interim executive director of Scarritt Bennett Center. Scarritt Bennett is a nonprofit education, retreat and conference center owned by United Methodist Women. 
Read press release
 

LOOKING AHEAD

Here are some of the activities ahead for United Methodists across the connection. 

Monday, Jan. 16

The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Day — The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Day — United Methodist Discipleship Ministries offers worship and historical resources for celebrating the U.S. civil rights leader who taught that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” See resources


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