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Daily Digest - May 23, 2019

“This is a great opportunity for any church in our state, a simple ministry outreach. It’s a great way to be a reflection of Christ in the world.” — Wayne Worth on going door to door with flyers containing resource information for anyone struggling with addiction.


NEWS AND FEATURES

Outreach ministry for addiction is simple, effective

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (UM News) — For the cost of a ream of paper and some printer ink, a United Methodist layperson is confronting his state’s opioid epidemic one door at a time. This is the fifth in an ongoing series about churches in West Virginia dealing with the opioid crisis. Story by Joey Butler, photos by Mike DuBose.
Read story
Read series

Honoring WWI code talker, Native veterans
DURANT, Okla. (UM News) — Private Joseph Oklahombi, a member of the Choctaw Nation, was one of the most decorated war heroes from Oklahoma. However, most of his contributions were unknown until after his death. Ginny Underwood shares his story and that of other United Methodist veterans.
Read story

Ask The UMC
Understanding salvation

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Are we saved if accepting God’s grace happens gradually and not in one specific moment? United Methodists understand that people have different experiences of awakening and turning to God. Some may have a sudden, powerful experience. For others, it’s more gradual. Ask The UMC, a ministry of United Methodist Communications, looks to John Wesley’s experience for answers. 
Read story
Read more Ask The UMC

Great Plains Conference, UM News 
Video of UMCNext press conference 

LEAWOOD, Kan. — A video of the UMCNext press conference has been added to the UM News story about the gathering of more than 600 U.S. United Methodists to consider possible options for forging what they hope will be a more inclusive future in Methodism. Heather Hahn has the story, Great Plains provided the video. 
Read story and watch video

North Texas Conference
A senior ministry dynamo at age 90

DALLAS — At 90, Dede Casad directs the senior life ministry program for University Park United Methodist Church. Earlier this year, she hosted “Equip,” a conference on senior ministry, and she’s planning a follow-up event for 2020. She’s also the mother of the Rev. Vic Casad, a district superintendent in the North Texas Conference.
Read story


PRESS RELEASES

Archives and History
Top executive plans to retire in 2020

MADISON, N.J. — The Rev. Alfred T. Day, top executive of the General Commission on Archives and History, announced his plans to retire no later than June 30, 2020. At that time he will have served 45 years in pastoral and supervisory ministries in his home conference, Eastern Pennsylvania, and throughout the United States. 
Read press release

Higher Education and Ministry
5 church performance measures that matter

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The leadership development agency of The United Methodist Church recently commissioned a needs assessment to identify challenges faced by modern church leaders. The United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry identified five performance measures that would make significant differences to churches if improved. Those are: membership, diversity, engagement, retention and financial. 
Read press release

No Daily Digest on Friday, Monday
There will be no Daily Digest on Friday, May 24, or Monday, May 27, due to Memorial Day. The Weekly Digest will be published May 24. 


RECENT HEADLINES

United Methodists offer lifeline to reservation



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