UMC Featured News & Stories

Willie Marare: Thankful to God, despite hardships
With the loss of his sight, Marare struggles, but he says God is wonderful to him. Choir children dream of happy futures
A United Methodist program is giving 23 Ugandan children a better start in life. Choir director Tonny Mbowa shapes young lives
The survivor of a difficult childhood, Mbowa pursues a calling to help others. Global partnership takes aim at malaria deaths
Bishop Janice Huie joins businessman Ted Turner as he announces an expanded global partnership against malaria. Choir opens world to children with 'hard lives'
Twenty-three children whose lives have been uprooted by war are preparing for their first “international tour.” Church rescues children in displaced persons’ camp
Dorothy Lakol’s life was in jeopardy before she was chosen to be part of a Uganda children’s choir. Pastor brings church to vulnerable people
The Rev. Titus Olaka offers the Gospel and hope to an internally displaced persons’ camp in northern Uganda. Training helps Florida churches prepare for storms
With an active hurricane season predicted, United Methodists in Florida are preparing to help their neighbors weather the storms. Faith community examines disaster response
A Church World Service forum brings together leaders in disaster relief ministry to discuss economics and justice in disaster response. U.S. state efforts advance to abolish death penalty
United Methodists in Maryland, Nebraska and other states are key in efforts to end capital punishment. Retired Liberian clergy eke out survival on pensions
The next installment of a four-week series focuses on Liberia, where a pension program is helping clergy and church lay workers. Advocates fought for N.J. death penalty repeal
In 2007, New Jersey became the first state in 42 years to legislatively end the death penalty. Commentary: Death penalty law follows spirit of ’56
The United Methodist Church officially opposed the death penalty at the 1956 General Conference. Court closes United Methodist church in Russia
United Methodists are investigating a regional court’s order to dissolve a congregation in response to a suit. Sister Prejean to receive Methodist peace award
The Catholic nun known for her opposition to the death penalty will receive the award April 2 in New Orleans. Agnes Toe: 'Ministry was a blessing in my life'
Wiping away tears, this United Methodist pastor's widow in Liberia struggles with family losses, illness and poverty. The Rev. James Mazdeh: Praying for another day
"Whatever God provides, I eat it for the day and pray for another," says Mazdeh, 86, who relies on a quarterly pension worth US$60. The Rev. Joseph Sunday: No nest egg after 33 years
"We eat once a day," says Sunday, 77, who led rural churches in Liberia and retired from active ministry in 2002. The Rev. Karmah Early: 'My life is total darkness'
Blind for several years, she survives on a meager church pension after years of service as a United Methodist pastor in Liberia. Meet Ben Scharfstein, ‘the inviting guy’
"You have to make it personal," says the one-man evangelism marvel, on how to invite people to church without turning them away. Saint Paul seminary to thank Congo mission partners
A partnership delivering more than $14 million in medicines to Africa honors Good Samaritans who made the life-saving airlift a reality. Youth experience ‘night walk’ as homeless teen
In Chicago, the Night Walk program gives young people a taste of street life at night from a homeless youth's perspective. Curriculum invites children to build ‘rock solid’ faith
Hank the Hammer and friends will help children build a "rock solid heart of faith" through a new United Methodist Sunday school offering. United Methodists begin Midwest flood response
UMCOR and disaster relief leaders respond to flooding and other weather challenges in Arkansas, Ohio, Illinois and Missouri. Ana Chuquele: ‘I can’t stand up straight’
Chuquele of Mozambique receives about $20 a month in pension and is surviving with her children’s help. Church acts on pension needs in Africa, elsewhere
Mozambique is a key focus area for a churchwide pension initiative. First of a four-week series. Memphis churches weep together over mass slayings
More than 2,000 people attend an interfaith service in response to the killings of four adults and two children. Serafina Ngal: Living on $20 a month
A pastor’s widow living in Maputo, Ngal is in declining health. “I can’t take care of myself anymore.” Annual Conferences Build on Training and Experience in 'Super Tuesday' Tornado Response
Preparedness, training, experience, and ongoing relationships enabled United Methodists to be in the forefront of the response to the recent “Super Tuesday” tornadoes that cut a destructive swath through Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi and Alabama on February 5.
Invention pours water on thirsty world
A water purifying system designed by a United Methodist in Indiana is providing safe drinking water to people across the globe. Tap Project taps restaurant patrons for clean water
For World Water Week, some U.S. restaurants are inviting patrons to give $1 per water glass to help others without clean drinking water. Faith leaders call for living wage, honor King
An interfaith celebration in Memphis, Tenn., calls for continuing Martin Luther King's work for living wages. Scholarship recipients journey toward ministry
United Methodist students who receive church loans and scholarships honor the people helping to finance their education. UMCOR to Establish Three Additional Offices in 2008
The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is expanding its physical presence in the US and around the world. Church makes filing less taxing for the needy
A United Methodist church is offering help – as well as coffee and donuts – through a free AARP program. Film on Johnson Sirleaf to air on PBS outlet
"Iron Ladies of Liberia" is a documentary on Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the United Methodist president of Liberia. Board commissions missionaries, deaconesses
The United Methodist mission agency is assigning a diverse group of people for work around the globe. Consider justice over charity, mission leader says
Bishop Felton May says the U.S. and the world have an unfinished agenda on the issue of poverty. United Methodist membership down, constituency up
While professing U.S. membership declined in 2006, the number of constituents was up 16 percent from a decade ago. United Methodist Mission Agency Joins Effort to Organize Free Health Clinics in US

The mission agency of The United Methodist Church is exploring a partnership with Volunteers in Medicine, a nonprofit organization that has helped to create 61 community-based and volunteer-staffed free medical clinics in the United States in an 11-year period.

Nothing But Nets raises $18 million in first year
"It’s been more like a movement than a campaign," says United Methodist Bishop Thomas Bickerton of the anti-malaria campaign. Religious activists attend advocacy ‘boot camp’
Ecumenical Advocacy Days provides a forum to mobilize and strengthen Christian voices on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Sudan Project serves as model for United Methodists
Ginghamsburg Church, a United Methodist congregation in Ohio, has raised $3 million in three years to help Sudanese people in Africa. United Methodist Men slate new methods, officers
As the men's ministry celebrates its 100th anniversary, its leaders learn of new methods to reach men in the next 100 years. Agency commissions new missionaries, deaconesses and home missioners
Twenty-two new United Methodist missionaries, 12 deaconesses and two home missioners were commissioned on March 11 for service in the church. Church agencies renew distance-education alliance
Two United Methodist agencies are working to develop distance-learning systems across Africa using satellite and radio. D.C. Foundry church will honor same-sex unions
After three years of study, a high-profile United Methodist church recognizes same-sex unions in special ceremonies. Pan-Methodists re-evaluate board roles
The African Methodist Episcopal Church reconsiders having representation on United Methodist agencies. Bishop Paup to lead Board of Global Ministries
Bishop Edward Paup is elected to lead the mission agency of The United Methodist Church. United Methodist Women mark Iraq war anniversary
Women are being encouraged to participate in prayer services and vigils March 19, the war’s fifth anniversary.

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