UM News Digest - May 22, 2026

UM News Digest - May 22, 2026

Restoring sight in Sierra Leone • Yoga ministry • Annual conference reports

“I love the smile that I put on people’s faces.” — Dr. John G. Mattia, on his work at Lowell and Ruth Gess United Methodist Church Eye Hospital in Sierra Leone.

Sinnika A. Bangura (right), a staffer at the Lowell and Ruth Gess United Methodist Church Eye Hospital in Freetown, Sierra Leone, applies dilating eye drops to a young child with the support of his parents. Photo by Eveline Chikwanah, UM News.

Church hospitals restore sight, health in Sierra Leone
FREETOWN, Sierra Leone (UM News) — Dr. John G. Mattia, Sierra Leone’s only pediatric ophthalmologist, finds great joy in helping patients restore their eyesight at Lowell and Ruth Gess United Methodist Church Eye Hospital. The facility is within the same mission center that holds Kissy General United Methodist Hospital. For decades, both hospitals have played a pivotal role in providing healthcare in Freetown. Eveline Chikwanah reports.

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Participants stretch during a yoga class at First Church Fort Pierce, a United Methodist Congregation in Florida. Photo by Lilla Marigza UM News.

Yoga ministry stretches beyond church walls
FORT PIERCE, Fla. (UM News) — At First Church Fort Pierce, a United Methodist Congregation, a yoga class is doing more than improving strength and balance. What began as a small gathering has grown into a compassionate community that gives back, turning movement and mindfulness into a powerful force for good. Lilla Marigza has the story.
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West Virginia Conference
Godspeed to deployed superintendent
BECKLEY, W.Va. — Prayers for a safe deployment were offered for Chaplain Christopher W. “Chip” Bennett in a ceremony earlier this month at United Methodist Temple, Beckley. Bennett, a district superintendent, is set to travel to the Middle East in July to counsel soldiers there. Audrey Stanton-Smith has the story.
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Center for Health and Hope
Church connection helps nursing student fight AIDS
WINFIELD, Kan. — A deep desire to help others led Mackenzie Reinert to begin her nursing studies at United Methodist-related Southwestern College. That calling recently took on global dimensions when Reinert, a 20-year-old sophomore, was selected to join a delegation of the Center for Health and Hope in India and Sri Lanka. The center, founded by United Methodists, advocates for people affected by HIV and AIDS. The Rev. Donald E. Messer has the story.
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New 2026 annual conference reports posted
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodist News is posting 2026 annual conference reports. New this week are the Austria Provisional, Hungary-Romania and Serbia-North Macedonia-Albania conferences.
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Download this image in four languages at umnews.org. Graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News. Image by Sebastiano Iervolino via Pixabay.

World Council of Churches
Ecumenical group offers Pentecost message
GENEVA — “Pentecost invites us to reimagine communities that care for and share what we have in common,” says a statement by the World Council of Churches presidents. This year, United Methodists and other Christians celebrate Pentecost on May 24.
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Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew
Church turns roof tiles into time capsule
NEW YORK — The Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew, a United Methodist congregation known for providing space for varied social services in New York City, is marking its 191st anniversary by replacing its Spanish-tiled roof. While the church has raised nearly $5 million for the project so far, it has launched a “Sponsor-a-Tile” campaign to cover the remaining costs. The tiles can include a physical inscription of prayer, gratitude or love and will function as a time capsule of sorts.
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UM News: Learning to ‘live welcome’ in response to human need

JessicaBrodie.com
Novel inspired by United Methodist women’s home
LEXINGTON, S.C. — United Methodist journalist Jessica Brodie says her new faith-based novel, “Hidden Seeds,” was inspired by her work with the United Methodist-founded Killingsworth Home for Women. Supported by United Women in Faith, the ministry helps women who are emerging from crisis situations. Brodie has served as editor-in-chief of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate since 2010.
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UM News: Author weaves United Methodism into novel

Status and Role of Women
Registration opens for Do No Harm conference
GLENVIEW, Ill. — The United Methodist Commission on the Status and Role of Women has opened registration for the Do No Harm virtual conference on Nov. 12-14. The conference is designed to equip individuals and churches for the urgent work of preventing sexual harm and fostering trauma-informed care. Ashley Judd and Rachael Denhollander will headline the event, alongside an experienced slate of advocates, mental health practitioners, scholars and church leaders.
Learn more
Register