UM News Digest - July 28, 2025

UM News Digest - July 28, 2025

Bishops: Ukrainians need church’s presence
Mission agency’s support revitalizes hospitals
Church scores with softball league

“I think (Ukrainian Methodists) appreciate being a part of a global church, a wider community, and, in a way, I become a symbol of that.” — Bishop Knut Refsdal of the Nordic-Baltic-Ukraine Episcopal Area, on being in ministry with the people of Ukraine.

United Methodist Bishop Christian Alsted and the Rev. Yulia Starodubets pray in May of 2022 with Oksana, who fled her home in northeastern Ukraine after the Russian military destroyed her apartment building. File photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Bishops: Ukrainians need church’s presence
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — As the war between Russia and Ukraine drags on, United Methodists are continuing to do what they can to boost morale and provide necessities to those in need. Bishop Knut Refsdal of the Nordic-Baltic-Ukraine Episcopal Area plans to visit Ukraine in August. He and outgoing Bishop Christian Alsted talk about the church’s ministry with the people of Ukraine. Jim Patterson reports.

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Dr. Ursula Norah Nyamandi, a government medical officer at the Nyadire Mission Hospital in Zimbabwe, monitors the condition of John Gwata, 87, who is anemic. Photo by Kudzai Chingwe, UM News.

Mission agency’s support revitalizes hospitals
HARARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — With support from the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, Old Mutare and Nyadire mission hospitals are now better equipped to provide high-quality health care in rural settings. Recent upgrades reduce the need for patients to travel long distances to urban centers for specialized care. Kudzai Chingwe has the story.

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East Ohio Conference
Church scores with softball league
NAVARRE, Ohio — New Way United Methodist Church started a softball league this summer as a ministry. Four teams competed on Monday and Tuesday nights, with the last game on July 22. Each game ended with a short devotion and there was even an on-field baptism after the championship game. Brett Hetherington has the story.
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Great Plains Conference
Methodist Maintenance Men get things done
OMAHA, Neb. — The Monday Morning Methodist Maintenance Men are stirring things up at FaithWestwood United Methodist Church. Called the 5Ms for short, the group of retired church members take on handyman projects. Their biggest so far was converting a 16,000-square-foot former daycare at the church to a home for Mosaic, an agency that provides services for those with intellectual disabilities. 5Ms member Dan Boten estimates that professionals would have charged the church $200,000 for the work the group did. David Burke reports.
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WFMY-CBS News 2
Car crashes into church during Sunday service
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Members of Collins Grove United Methodist Church were shook up earlier this month after a car slammed into the side of the church during Sunday service. The crash happened just as churchgoers were taking up offerings. No one was hurt, but the Rev. Carl Manuel Jr. said it took an emotional toll. “I could have been planning two funerals. That’s how serious that was,” he said. Nixon Norman reports.
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United Women in Faith
Climate justice grant awarded
NEW YORK — Mosaic Momentum has awarded a $100,000 grant to United Women in Faith to support its climate justice work, the women’s organization announced on July 25. “This grant will aid our mission to mobilize women of faith and build a diverse coalition with environmental justice advocates and social justice organizers,” said Sally Vonner, top executive of United Women in Faith. Mosaic is a national funder of environmental health and justice movements in the U.S.
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