Poverty

The Rev. Will Ed Green (right), senior pastor of Silver Spring United Methodist Church in Silver Spring, Md., shows part of the church’s facility to Maryland Gov. Wes Moore. Moore visited the church Feb. 23 as part of efforts to promote affordable housing. Photo by Alison Burdett, Baltimore-Washington Conference.

State gives big boost to church housing plan

Maryland is providing crucial tax credits for Silver Spring United Methodist Church’s $88.2 million affordable-housing initiative. The growing church is among many U.S. congregations repurposing property for good.

Mission and Ministry

Rumbidzai Munetsi of Divine Grace Bakery separates freshly baked buns into batches for sale at Hunyani United Methodist Church in Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe. Munetsi is a member of the church, where group members meet to bake on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Photo by Eveline Chikwanah, UM News.

Bakery ministry empowers women in Zimbabwe

Divine Grace Bakery, funded by a United Women in Faith grant, is helping to alleviate poverty by teaching women to bake and sell their products.

Congregations

A child chooses a scooter at a Kids Free Christmas Shopping event sponsored by ARK and Velva United Methodist churches in North Dakota. Photo courtesy of the Dakotas Conference Facebook page.

Small churches offer place for kids to shop

Kids Free Christmas Shopping helps youngsters buy Christmas gifts for their families, and the price is right: free. ARK United Methodist Church in South Dakota and Velva United Methodist Church in North Dakota work together on the project each year. “It is such a joy to see the faces of the children … and the delight in the volunteers that are helping.”

Faith Stories

After worship services in the Bethany memory care unit, retired United Methodist Bishop Kenneth Carder goes around the room, greeting each resident by name. Carder was as interim chaplain at Bethany, part of the Heritage at Lowman senior community near Columbia, S.C. 2016 file photo by Matt Brodie.

Bishop shares path from poverty to prominence

Retired Bishop Kenneth Carder’s memoir charts his journey from humble beginnings to leadership in The United Methodist Church, and his discomfort along the way.

Sign up for our newsletter!

Subscribe Now