“We have no one here. Our only family here is Pastor (Donald) Owens and the people of the center. They are the ones who help us in everything.” — Ronald Fildor, a migrant from Haiti, who lives at Christ Ministry Center of The United Methodist Church in San Diego.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Haitian migrants bring vitality to declining church
SAN DIEGO (UM News) — Christ United Methodist Church found that the harder it worked to grow, the smaller it became, so it switched to being a ministry center. Haitians, fleeing disasters and violence in their own country, found shelter at the center and ended up making it their spiritual home. The Rev. Bill Jenkins estimates that the congregation has helped 10,000 migrants in the past 20 years. Gustavo Vasquez reports.
Read story
Haitians risk lives to migrate
Jenkins on adopting his Haitian son
Iowa Conference
Jail ministry spreads hope
WAVERLY, Iowa — Females incarcerated at the Bremer County Jail look forward to weekly visits from a member of Trinity United Methodist Church. The ministry has been going on for 15 years, and some of the jailed women say the visits are the highlight of their week.
Read story
Minnesota Conference
Marathon ‘pit stops’ offer fellowship for clergy
MINNEAPOLIS — Throughout October and early November, 13 Marathon Way Station “pit stops” were offered all over the state of Minnesota. They offered clergy good food and a place to gather with colleagues where they could swap pandemic stories and encourage each other for the next leg of their ministry journey. Christa Meland has the story.
Read story
Religion News Service
Asbury sues over vaccine mandate
WILMORE, Ky. — Asbury Theological Seminary, one of the seminaries approved for students pursuing ordination in The United Methodist Church, is challenging the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for employers with more than 100 workers. Attorneys for Asbury and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary filed suit in federal court, arguing the requirement violates the schools’ religious freedom. Bob Smietana reports.
Read story
United Methodist Foundation of Western North Carolina
Church expansion serves community
HARRISBURG, N.C. — Harrisburg United Methodist Church is more than ever a meeting place for community groups, thanks to a $1.7 million building expansion and redesign. “Loving our neighbor means opening our home,” said the Rev. Wes Smith, co-pastor. Matt Garfield reports.
Read story and watch video
RESOURCES
Mobilize Vaccine Turnout!
Webinar offers tools for reaching unvaccinated
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — A Nov. 17 webinar will address COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and offer tips for overcoming barriers to access. The Rev. Dana Horrell, who has written a handbook to help congregations reach out to the unvaccinated, will lead the webinar at 2 p.m. U.S. Eastern time.
Register for webinar
Download handbook
UM News: Handbook aims to reach unvaccinated with compassion
RECENT HEADLINES
Bishops offer framework for inclusive church
Boise church pushes for global COVID shots
EVENTS
Thursday, Nov. 11
Webinar: Working From Home — Best Practices for Ministries
NEWS AND FEATURES
Haitian migrants bring vitality to declining church
SAN DIEGO (UM News) — Christ United Methodist Church found that the harder it worked to grow, the smaller it became, so it switched to being a ministry center. Haitians, fleeing disasters and violence in their own country, found shelter at the center and ended up making it their spiritual home. The Rev. Bill Jenkins estimates that the congregation has helped 10,000 migrants in the past 20 years. Gustavo Vasquez reports.
Read story
Haitians risk lives to migrate
Jenkins on adopting his Haitian son
Iowa Conference
Jail ministry spreads hope
WAVERLY, Iowa — Females incarcerated at the Bremer County Jail look forward to weekly visits from a member of Trinity United Methodist Church. The ministry has been going on for 15 years, and some of the jailed women say the visits are the highlight of their week.
Read story
Minnesota Conference
Marathon ‘pit stops’ offer fellowship for clergy
MINNEAPOLIS — Throughout October and early November, 13 Marathon Way Station “pit stops” were offered all over the state of Minnesota. They offered clergy good food and a place to gather with colleagues where they could swap pandemic stories and encourage each other for the next leg of their ministry journey. Christa Meland has the story.
Read story
Religion News Service
Asbury sues over vaccine mandate
WILMORE, Ky. — Asbury Theological Seminary, one of the seminaries approved for students pursuing ordination in The United Methodist Church, is challenging the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for employers with more than 100 workers. Attorneys for Asbury and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary filed suit in federal court, arguing the requirement violates the schools’ religious freedom. Bob Smietana reports.
Read story
United Methodist Foundation of Western North Carolina
Church expansion serves community
HARRISBURG, N.C. — Harrisburg United Methodist Church is more than ever a meeting place for community groups, thanks to a $1.7 million building expansion and redesign. “Loving our neighbor means opening our home,” said the Rev. Wes Smith, co-pastor. Matt Garfield reports.
Read story and watch video
RESOURCES
Mobilize Vaccine Turnout!
Webinar offers tools for reaching unvaccinated
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — A Nov. 17 webinar will address COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and offer tips for overcoming barriers to access. The Rev. Dana Horrell, who has written a handbook to help congregations reach out to the unvaccinated, will lead the webinar at 2 p.m. U.S. Eastern time.
Register for webinar
Download handbook
UM News: Handbook aims to reach unvaccinated with compassion
RECENT HEADLINES
Bishops offer framework for inclusive church
Boise church pushes for global COVID shots
EVENTS
Thursday, Nov. 11
Webinar: Working From Home — Best Practices for Ministries
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