UM News Digest - Aug. 11, 2025

UM News Digest - Aug. 11, 2025

Church provides food, hope at refugee camp
Pastor finds holy moments at racetrack
2 churches join in building affordable housing

“The UMC’s intervention is not just about providing food; it’s (also) about restoring dignity and building a healthier future for these resilient individuals who have already endured so much.” — Maurice Solola, Malawi Provisional Annual Conference acting health coordinator, on supporting refugees.

Beneficiaries of a United Methodist-sponsored nutrition program gather at Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Dowa District, Malawi. The camp is home to an estimated 57,000 refugees. The church initiative provides a monthly clinic that offers supplementary feeding programs for those at the camp most at risk of malnutrition. Photo by Francis Nkhoma, UM News.

Beneficiaries of a United Methodist-sponsored nutrition program gather at Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Dowa District, Malawi. Photo by Francis Nkhoma, UM News.

Church provides food, hope at refugee camp
BLANTYRE, Malawi (UM News) — Dzaleka Refugee Camp is home to an estimated 57,000 people, well beyond the camp’s capacity. The refugees often find themselves facing food insecurity. A monthly church program is offering vital health and nutrition services to the camp’s most vulnerable women and children. The ministry is supported by Resurrection, a United Methodist church with nine locations in the Kansas City area. Francis Nkhoma reports.

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Michigan Conference
Pastor finds holy moments at racetrack
OWENDALE, Mich. — Dressing like a sumo wrestler in an inflatable costume to race at a dirt track is part of the ministry of Pastor Karen Kinney. She leads Harbor Beach and Port Hope United Methodist churches. Each summer, she spends Saturday nights at the Silver Bullet Speedway looking for ways to share her faith with the community there. Kinney has been helped by the Michigan Conference through the Seed to Harvest ministry incubation program. James Deaton has the story.
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Virginia Conference
2 churches join in building affordable housing
ROANOKE, Va. — Greene Memorial and Trinity United Methodist churches have merged — not just congregations but missions. Working with a local nonprofit, congregants are transforming the historic Trinity building into 15 affordable apartments for retirees, turning sacred space into safe space. The Virginia Conference staff have a video.
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Holston Conference
Wedding dresses represent decades of faith
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — What do you get when you mix a 200-year church celebration, generous donations of wedding dresses and a chapel? Well, a beautiful display of weddings that took place at Fountain City United Methodist Church. The collection of wedding memorabilia began with a yearlong celebration of the church’s bicentennial. Martha Koho has the story.
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South Carolina Conference
Church praise band releases studio album
SIMPSONVILLE, S.C. — Advent United Methodist Church’s praise band has released an album that is not only helping the congregation reach out to the community but also creating a greater sense of community in-house. Nick Smith, director of contemporary worship, said the intent for the album is to provide a reminder to people that they can trust in God. Jessica Brodie has the story.
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United Women in Faith
Vonner on voting bill anniversary
NEW YORK — The top executive of United Women in Faith says the Voting Rights Act of 1965 has been steadily undermined since its enactment 60 years ago. “We should not be content to celebrate what was, without ensuring that its strength and vigor remain today and well into the future,” Sally Vonner says in a statement.
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Abingdon Press
Book connects Methodist history, present day
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Key moments in Methodist history that could have impact today are detailed in a new book by a United Methodist pastor and the top executive of United Methodist Archives and History. The authors invite readers to travel outside their comfort zones, whether in online spaces, digital communities or outside the church. “Calling on Fire: Reclaiming the Method of Methodism” is written by Chris Heckert, senior pastor of Haddonfield United Methodist Church in Haddonfield, New Jersey, and Ashley Boggan of Archives and History.
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Wesley Theological Seminary
McAllister-Wilson plans to retire as Wesley president
WASHINGTON — President David McAllister-Wilson has announced that he will retire from Wesley Theological Seminary on June 30, 2026. He began his service at the United Methodist seminary in 1982 as a student worker and led Wesley more than two decades as president.
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UM News includes in the Digest various commentaries about issues in the denomination. The opinion pieces reflect a variety of viewpoints and are the opinions of the writers, not UM News staff.

Upper New York Conference
Delivering comfort one blanket and hat at a time
JOHNSONVILLE, N.Y. — Picture a car filled to the brim, delivering warmth, comfort and love to children who need it most. Sharon Clairmont-Long of Christ United Methodist Church in Johnsonville writes about how her church and fraternal organization are providing blankets, pillowcases, scarves and hats for kids receiving care at Shriners Children’s hospitals and clinics.
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