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Daily Digest - January 7, 2019

“Our care and treatment of HIV patients is encouraging more people to come and know their status.”Mohamed Koroma, HIV coordinator at United Methodist Mercy Hospital in Bo, Sierra Leone.


NEWS AND FEATURES

Hospital reaches out to Sierra Leone’s poorest

BO, Sierra Leone (UMNS) — United Methodist Mercy Hospital’s outreach program is transforming the lives of the poorest of the poor in Sierra Leone. The program targets pregnant women, nursing mothers and children under age 5 in remote communities where availability and the power to pay for health care is a challenge. Phileas Jusu has the story.
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United Methodist Committee on Relief
Partnerships enable hurricane response

ATLANTA — When disaster occurs, the United Methodist Committee on Relief helps people recover, partnering with annual conferences to train volunteers from local congregations as disaster responders and providing grants for direct support, goods or services to survivors. The relief agency approved 53 grants totaling more than $53 million for its 2017-18 hurricane response. Tom Gillem has the story.
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Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference
Native young adults to march for indigenous peoples

OKLAHOMA CITY — Young adults from the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference will travel to Washington to participate in the Indigenous Peoples March to bring awareness to injustices experienced by indigenous people around the world. The Rev. David Wilson will lead the group and invites other United Methodists to join them on Jan. 18.
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Colorado Springs Gazette
Including those with disabilities in worship

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — As part of her coursework at United Methodist Iliff School of Theology, Janita McGregor designed the “Wonderfully Made” worship service for those with disabilities. The service launched Jan. 6 at First United Methodist Church, where McGregor is director of children’s ministries. Michelle Karas reports.
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COMMENTARIES

Considering ‘foundational principles’ about unity

WASHINGTON — The word "unity" has been used many times and in many ways in sermons, speeches and articles in recent months as The United Methodist Church ponders its future. The Rev. Jean Hawxhurst, ecumenical staff officer with the Council of Bishops, offers some foundational principles about unity “upon which all sides in our denominational debate likely agree,” she writes. 
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RECENT HEADLINES

Unity struggle is major story of 2018
 

Pacific Islanders focus on divide over sexuality


EVENTS

Monday, Jan. 14-Friday, Jan. 25

Online Lay Servant Ministries class: Rediscovering our spiritual gifts

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